Adirondack Harvest Festival

Planning for the 2025 Adirondack Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 20 from 12-5pm at the Essex County Fairgrounds is well underway! This year’s theme is “Seeds & Grains”. Our workshops and demonstrations will feature connections to the world of seeds and grains, but we welcome the entire spectrum of harvests from the Adirondacks throughout the festival.

We are currently calling for farmers’ market vendors, workshop leaders, demonstrators and organizations who would like to set up displays and information tables. Interested? Click here to sign up. All vendors must be Adirondack Harvest members – if you are not a member, click here to get started!

Stay tuned for more details about the 2025 festival. We will post information here as the planning develops!

See below for snapshots from the 2024 festival!

Adirondack Harvest Festival FAQ

Can I sign up to be a vendor? Maybe! Check out the info here to see if you might be a good fit. The vendor sign up window closes September 15, 2025.

Do I need to buy tickets? No, the event is free entry, just show up the day of!

What time does the event start, can I come early? The event begins at noon and we are unable to admit anyone into the Fairgrounds early. The gate will be closed until noon to allow vendors to safely drive around the grounds to set up.

Is there parking, and is it free? Yes, there is parking at the Fairgrounds and it is free. Overflow parking is along Sisco Street. Please follow directions from the parking attendants when you arrive and enter through the main gate.

Is the event rain or shine? YES! We have ample event tents and indoor space, the event will be a fun party whether we have scorching sun or pouring rain!

What should I bring with me? A reusable grocery bag or tote bag to carry your purchases in. Check the weather in advance and bring any rain or sun protection you will need to stay comfortable. Bring a reusable water bottle to refill at the water refill stations. Bring cash to spend at the market and to tip our awesome entertainment vendors.

Will vendors accept credit cards? BRING CASH! There is limited cell reception at the event which makes it hard for vendors to accept credit cards. Please bring cash with you. There will be an ATM onsite, and the closest bank with an ATM is Champlain National Bank on Main Street in Westport.

What activities will be free? All kid’s activities are free, the straw bale toss, hula hoop contest, live music, Champlain Area Trails hike, demonstrations, and petting zoo are all free. The pony rides, face painting, caricatures and horse-drawn wagon rides are all free but tips to the vendors are welcome and encouraged.

How do I participate in the pre-festival Champlain Area Trails hike? Details TBA.

Am I allowed to bring my own food or drink to the Festival? We encourage you to bring a reusable water bottle and refill it at our water refill stations. If someone in your group has special dietary needs, you’re welcome to bring food in with you.

How do I participate in the workshops? Each workshop has a small fee and a limit on participants. Participation will be first-come-first-served, so make sure to arrive at the workshop you’d like to attend a bit early to secure your space.

Is the event space accessible for wheelchairs, strollers, and rolling walkers? Yes, most of the festival activities can be accessed along paved paths or on flat grass.

Can I bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket for watching the live music? Yes! Please make yourself comfortable to hang out at the Festival all day.

Am I allowed to bring my dog? We love dogs, but since there will be horses and other farm animals at the Festival, dogs are not allowed. There is also no shaded parking area. For their safety, please leave them at home and do not leave them in your car. There is no shade in the parking area. We are aware that some people still bring their dogs – we are doing the best we can!

Will there be space for baby changing and breastfeeding? Yes, our friends at Essex County Public Health will have a quiet, private space for families.

Where can I stay and what is there to do nearby? You can find info on lodging, dining, outdoor recreation, and other events happening nearby at gowestportny.com and lakechamplainregion.com. Find other farmers’ markets, farmstays, farmstands, and local food across the Adirondacks at adirondackharvest.com/browse.

Thank You 2024 Sponsors!

This event is organized, sponsored and hosted by the Adirondack Harvest Program at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County.

Funding for this event also came from a 2024 Special Programs Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership. It is also made possible by a grant/cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.

About the Adirondack Harvest Festival

The Harvest Festival was created in 2016 to celebrate local farms and food, support our local economy, and give community members experiences that help us all learn and grow together. It is a day designed to bring farms, local businesses, and the community together! Giving regional farms an opportunity to showcase their work, and community members to learn, try new foods, and meet the makers.

Like everything, the Harvest Festival had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the past two years, the Harvest Festival took a different shape. With an online and self-guided festival in 2020, and an “Open Farm Week” with a whole week of many smaller events across the Adirondacks in 2021. The Festival returned to it’s traditional, in-person, one-day event in 2022, and a separate Open Farm Weekend was hosted in August 2022.