2023 Adirondack Harvest Festival

Saturday, September 23 from 12-5pm at the Essex County Fairgrounds

Join us for our annual celebration of agriculture in the Adirondack region!

The 2023 event will follow the same format as past festivals, with a large farmers’ market, local food trucks, “Local Libations” tent, hands-on workshops, kids’ activities, draft horse and wagon rides, and more.

The theme of the hands-on workshops and demonstrations will be “Local Fiber and Wool” with experts leading sessions on natural dyes for yarn and fabric, sheep shearing, spinning, weaving, and other local fiber arts.

DONATIONS/SPONSORS: Contributions from generous sponsors make this event free for everyone. If you’re interested in sponsoring the event, please click here for more information. If you’re a private individual that would like to support the Adirondack Harvest Festival, please click here to make a donation and receive a complimentary 2023 Festival t-shirt for every $50 donated!

VOLUNTEERS: If you’d like to volunteer your time on the day of the festival, or if you have a farm animal you’d like to showcase in the petting zoo, please sign up here.

2023 Vendors

The Adirondack Harvest Festival is unique in that it specifically highlights locally grown food and products. It’s not your everyday craft fair or farmers’ market; the goal of the event is to truly support and promote our local farmers and other businesses using locally harvested components.

2023 Food Trucks and other Food Vendors

All food vendors are required to use local ingredients!

Crown Point Bread Co.– Pizza, pastries and more
Farmers Cone Creamery– Ice cream made with local milk and flavorings
Green Goddess Natural Market– Curry, samosas, sandwiches, sesame noodles, coffee, iced coffee, cookies, chips and snacks
Grilled Cheese Fundraiser for the Wadham’s Library– Grilled cheese made with locally made bread, and local cheese, pesto and tomato
Orta Foods– Indo-Mediterranean inspired healthy vegetarian dips, snacks, salads and baked goods
North Woods Bread Co– Cornish pasties and sweet and savory baked goods
Papa Duke’s BBQ– Smoked pork and chicken and traditional BBQ sides
Ye Olde Phat Dragon Bakery– Pastries, Mexican sweet breads, gluten free and vegan options
Rivermede Farm Market– Burgers, veggie burgers, hotdogs, chili dogs, chili and vegetarian sweet potato chili, cornbread, iced tea, snowcones, popcorn, cotton candy and caramel apples
Taste of Lahore– Frontier Town’s take on South Asian Cuisine, including butter chicken, white chicken curry, chicken tikka masala, Lahori chana, palak paneer and baklava

Local Libations Tent Vendors

AuSable Brewing Company– Craft beer made with hops and fruit grown on-site
Oval Craft Brewing– Craft beer made using New York State ingredients
Otter Creek Winery– Wine and wine slushies made with Adirondack and New York State grapes

Activities & Entertainment

Pony rides by Rookery Ranch
Draft horse-drawn wagon rides by Country Dreams Farm
Hula hoop performance and contest by Vestopia Hoops
Stilt walking entertainment by Pete and Amy Nelson
Caricatures by Joe Ferris
Kids activities by CCE Essex, Lakeside School, and Essex County Public Health
Potato sack race and straw bale toss contest
Music by Ploughman’s Lunch, Annie & the Hedonists and Crackin’ Foxy

Adirondack Harvest Festival FAQ

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 this year. 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 is no ATM on site. The closest ATM is at the 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 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? Champlain Area Trails is hosting a guided pre-festival hike along forest and farmland from the Essex County Fairgrounds. The group hike departs from the Fairgrounds at 10am. But you’re welcome to do the hike on your own anytime until noon. End your journey back at the Fairgrounds and enjoy lunch, a local craft beer, a glass of wine, or wine slushy, and enjoy the Festival. Park at the Essex County Fairgrounds (will be marked) and meet the Champlain Area Trails folks at the entry area to register with them. See more details about the hike here.

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. There will be more, and a greater diversity of food vendors in 2023!

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.

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.

This event is organized, sponsored and hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2023 SPONSORS!

Headline Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Supporter Sponsors

Community Sponsors

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.