15th Annual Harvest Festival set for September 28th
By Charlie Church
Rolling north up 23rd from TU avenue, a western wash of gilding light stretches through the corn, causing travelers to marvel at the crop’s height and mark the coming season. The rays lancing through the field and the coolness of late August evening air, an evocative mixture, engender one to wonder how many years corn has been cultivated here. Thoughts like these of prior harvests, earlier farmers, and all the little histories slightly obscured, surround us and we commemorate them in a celebration. The Vicksburg Historical Society entreats all to attend the 15th Annual Harvest Festival at the Vicksburg Historic Village on Sunday, September 28th. Between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., village visitors will discover the park has come to life with all the historic and replica buildings open and hosted by knowledgeable docents, an ample animal zone, live craft demonstrations, the Dodworth Saxhorn Band, and so much more!
In its fifteenth year, the Harvest Festival looks to grow its educational offerings by adding a flavor of musical history. The wonderful Dodworth Saxhorn band will play in the gazebo illuminating the look and sound of 160 years ago. Through musical stories, the troupe will entertain all in a moving and often comedic fashion. Singing, antique instrument solos, and well-crafted narratives coalesce to make the band an attraction no one should miss.
The pumpkin decorating contest returns in its expanded form, allowing nearly everyone to join in. Adults, teens, and kids can all compete amongst their respective cohort by ornamenting a pumpkin before the fest and submitting it to the depot on Saturday, Sept. 27. Children aged 5 to 12, teenagers, and adults can enter this pumpkin decorating competition for fun gift cards and accolades! This contest requires entries to be delivered to the Depot Museum on Saturday, Sept. 27, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Application forms are available online at vicksburghistory.org and at the Depot Museum on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in September.
While attending the Harvest Festival, those of an artistic bent will also be able to sate their creative cravings at the Vicksburg Arts’ Creation Station. Open to all ages, the activity is always a blast and will be located between the village garage and print shop. In addition, South County Community Services and Generous Hands will have plenty of petite pumpkins to sticker, marker, and beautify. While there, kids can also play tons of fun handmade games and collect sweet treats. Of course, throughout the Historic Village, children can seek clues to a secret phrase and engage in a delightful scavenger hunt of artifacts. Attendees can also guess the weight of a locally grown gourd for a prize up at the headquarters tent. All over the grounds, people will be able to participate in a 50/50 raffle and take photos in hand painted cutouts.
At the pavilion, local agriculture and craftmanship will be available to peruse and purchase. Many vendors from The Farmers’ Market will be present, as well as local businesses and service organizations looking to engage visitors. There will also be a variety of food trucks to satisfy a wide spectrum of palates. There is certainly something for everyone with face painting, fiber arts presentations, an expanded animal zone, horse-drawn wagon rides, woodturning demonstrations, and more.
The Harvest Festival is a free to attend event and is made so through many amazing volunteers and donors. From the straw bales and corn stalks adorning the village, donated by the Richardsons and Lenny Jaworski respectively, to the ample parking afforded by the Krills, the festival relies on many caring people. Though it’s not possible to name all such folks, we would like to recognize a few here. Folks like Dewey Waterman and the schools’ maintenance department that loan equipment necessary for the administration of the event. Of course, A favorite attraction are the Model A rides for $1, and this aspect of the fest too is only possible with the generosity of the Smokers who will chauffeur visitors in their lovingly restored vehicles.
This year, the Vicksburg Historical Society is introducing a business directory that will feature interesting snippets of local history and cool photos and will recognize business supporters. Be sure to stop by the headquarters tent to pick up your free copy. At the Harvest Festival, all the buildings in the Historic Village will be open. Friendly and knowledge guides will be in each to explain the history of the print shop, general store, Doris Lee Sweet Shop, schoolhouse, township hall, garage, and farmhouse. The Vicksburg Historical Society and Historic Village are open during the summer and beginning of the fall on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. for researching and viewing the collection of artifacts at the Depot Museum and on the grounds. The Harvest Festival is organized by the Vicksburg Historical Society, and we look forward to welcoming all, rain or shine, on the last Sunday in September.