Harvestfest 2013

Harvestfest 2013 - Oct. 19 & 20, at York Beach

In its 29th year, Harvestfest is a two-day event located at beautiful Short Sands Beach, in York, Maine. Harvestfest will be celebrated this year on Saturday, Oct. 19 & Sunday, Oct. 20 from 10:00-4:00pm. Harvestfest is held every year on the weekend following the three-day York Beach Sidewalk Sales event held Columbus Day weekend. Harvestfest extends the season one more week for many businesses in the area and aims to support the entire region and community. 

This festival includes a variety of activities, live bands and performers (including the Don Campbell Band and local favorite, Skyler), bean hole beans, local food vendors, juried crafters and marketplace vendors from all over New England. Harvestfest includes Kidsfest; look for pony rides, activities, a petting zoo, face painting and horse-drawn carriage rides. Again this year, there will be two big tents in the ball field, one for food and the other for entertainment; this means you can expect to find plenty of food under the tent on BOTH Saturday and Sunday. 

Between 1-4pm on Saturday, bring your own pumpkin to the Daily Grind Café. Jen Woods & crew will be on hand to help you carve your pumpkin. The pumpkins are then collected and placed along Railroad Ave. in the evening to create the pumpkin stroll. The Pumpkin Stroll runs from 5:30 – 7:15pm. Stroll by foot or by car to view the more than 250 carved and decorated pumpkins and luminaries. Dan Blakeslee will be on hand as Dr. Gasp to tell kid-friendly spooky stories! 

Harvestfest is a rain or shine event! It is also smoke-free and pet-free (except service dogs) for everyone’s safety & comfort. Free Public Parking for Harvestfest is at York’s Wild Animal Kingdom, which you can access from Route One. The parking meters at the beach are also free during Harvestfest. Handicap Parking is available in the lot next to the Winebaum Center and the perimeter ball field road. (Access the handicap parking by going down Ridge Road, not through the Wild Kingdom.)

The Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce, which hosts Harvestfest, is pleased to announce the four presenting sponsors: Cutty Sark Motel, Kennebunk Savings, Union Bluff Hotel & Meeting House and Woods Family Inc. All four of the sponsors are key players in making Harvestfest happen, though much of their involvement remains behind the scenes; these sponsors contribute so much time and effort in making Harvestfest happen. 

The Chamber’s bean hole beans have evolved from a colonial-type in-ground stone oven to their present day above-ground cast iron kettle. Peter Hughes and his Cutty Sark crew prepare the area in the ballfield for the beans to cook and Dockside Restaurant supplies the beans! The beans are served on Saturday only beginning at 10am. For more information on Harvestfest including: vendor lists, directions, sponsors, food details, maps, etc please visit www.yorkharvestfest.com or call the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce at 207.363.4422.

Story Sponsor

www.shootmainestudios.com

Harvestfest 2012 at York Beach

Don Campbell Band performing at Harvestfest in 2011 (courtesy photo)

Harvestfest 2012

Oct. 13 & 14, at York Beach

In its 28th year, Harvestfest is a two-day event located at beautiful Short Sands Beach, in York, Maine. Harvestfest will be celebrated this year on Saturday, Oct. 13 & Sunday, Oct. 14 from 10:00-4:00pm. Harvestfest is held every year on the weekend following the 3 day Sidewalk Salefest event held Columbus Day weekend. Harvestfest extends the season one more week for many businesses in the area and aims to support the entire region and community. This festival includes a variety of activities, live bands and performers (including the Don Campbell Band and local favorite, Skyler), bean hole beans, a POW-WOW (on Sunday), local food vendors, juried crafters and marketplace vendors from all over New England. Harvestfest includes Kidsfest; look for pony rides, activities, face painting and horse-drawn carriage rides. Harvestfest is southern Maine’s premiere fall festival. This year, there will be two big tents in the ball field, one for food and the other for entertainment; this means you can expect to find plenty of food under the tent on BOTH Saturday and Sunday.

 Pow Wow Drum at Rest (courtesy of Ed Bullock)

Harvestfest is a rain or shine event! It is also smoke-free and pet-free (except service dogs) for everyone’s safety & comfort. Free Public Parking for Harvestfest is at York’s Wild Animal Kingdom, which you can access from Route One. The parking meters at the beach are also free during Harvestfest. Handicap Parking is available in the lot next to the Winebaum Center and the perimeter ball field road. (Access the handicap parking by going down Ridge Road, not through the Wild Kingdom.)

General Schedule of Events at Harvestfest 2012

Saturday, October 13, 2012

10:00am – 4:00pm

Juried Craft Fair – Ballfield

Food Vendors – Ballfield

Entertainment Tent (Don Campbell Band) - Ballfield

Kidsfest – back corner of Ballfield

Face Painting by Hospice of York – Ballfield

Horse Drawn Wagon Rides – Entrance to Ballfield

Stage Two (various artists*) – in front of Daily Grind

Marketplace – Opposite Fire Station

Esplanade/Non-Profits – Opposite Fire Station

Roaming Railroad – front of Fire Station

10:00am – 1:00pm

Baked Beans – Ballfield

10:00am – 12:00pm

Pony Rides – Ballfield (Kidsfest corner)

1:00pm – 4:00pm

Pumpkin Carving – bring your own pumpkin to Daily Grind Cafe

2:00pm – 4:00pm

Pony Rides – Ballfield (Kidsfest corner)

5:30pm – 7:30pm

Pumpkin Stroll

*Stage Two Schedule

10:00am – 12:30: Skyler

12:30pm – 1:00pm: York Strings

1:00pm – 2:00pm: Maine-ly Balloons

2:00pm – 4:00pm: Dan Blakeslee

5:30pm – 7:00pm: Dr. Gasp (aka Dan Blakeslee)

Maine-ly Balloons roving 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Sunday, October 14, 2012

10:00am – 4:00pm

Juried Craft Fair – Ballfield

Food Vendors – Ballfield

Kidsfest – back corner of Ballfield

Horse Drawn Wagon Rides – Entrance to Ballfield

Stage Two (various artists**) – in front of Daily Grind

Marketplace – Opposite Fire Station

Esplanade/Non-Profits – Opposite Fire Station

Roaming Railroad – front of Fire Station 

11:00am – 4:00pm

Entertainment Tent (Native American POW-WOW) - Ballfield

10:00am – 12:00pm

Pony Rides – Ballfield (Kidsfest corner)

2:00pm – 4:00pm

Pony Rides – Ballfield (Kidsfest corner)

3:45pm

Reap the Harvest Raffle – prize drawings

**Stage Two Schedule

10:00am - 11:00am: The Funky Divas

11:00am – 12:00pm: Park’s Tae Kwon Do

12:00pm – 12:30pm: Storytelling by Shawn Middleton

12:45pm – 1:15pm: Storytelling by Shawn Middleton

1:30pm – 2:00pm: Storytelling by Shawn Middleton

2:00pm – 4:00pm: Extreme Air of New Hampshire

 Harvestfest 2011 Ball Field (courtesy photo)

The Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce, which hosts Harvestfest, is pleased to announce the four presenting sponsors: Cutty Sark Motel, Kennebunk Savings, Union Bluff Hotel & Meeting House and Woods Family Inc. All four of the sponsors are key players in making Harvestfest happen, though much of their involvement remains behind the scenes; these sponsors contribute so much time and effort to making Harvestfest happen and the Chamber would like to acknowledge all that they do.

Peter and Patrick Hughes from Cutty Sark Motel have been long committed to the Chamber’s evolution dating back to its humble beginning in the center of York Beach. The Hughes brothers and crew prepare the bean hole beans area and whole Harvestfest site for the onslaught of attendees; this takes place in the weeks and days leading up to and after Harvestfest. They also allow the chamber to use their motorized equipment during the festival to move materials as needed. According to Peter, “We are proud to be involved with preparation of the site for York’s Harvestfest and hope for the weather to do its part.”

Kennebunk Savings has been involved in Harvestfest for over fifteen years. Chris Kehl of Kennebunk Savings explains, “We like to support the community and Chamber of Commerce by contributing to the premier fall festival in the area. We enjoy the camaraderie and friendships that have developed over the years with the other volunteers and sponsors.” Bank employees volunteer with many aspects of the event during the weekend; in particular, they sell coffee in partnership with Carpe Diem Coffee Roasters to raise money for the York Food Pantry on Saturday.

According to Brent Merritt, “The Union Bluff Hotel and Meeting House is proud to sponsor York’s 28^th Annual Harvestfest celebration again this year.  We have sponsored the Harvestfest celebration for 7 years and been a major sponsor for the past 2 years.  Local participation in these events brings a spirit of community to our town.  Through these annual events we help to preserve our history and celebrate our heritage.  The Harvestfest celebration is a wonderful way to show visitors to our town the true flavor of a small Maine community.” This year, the Union Bluff will also help out by sponsoring the Harvestfest volunteer party.

Woods Family Inc., has sponsored Harvestfest for more than seven years. Woods family members help out with Harvestfest throughout the weekend and a crew from The Daily Grind Café (led by Jen Woods) leads the pumpkin carving & stroll. David Woods comments, “We sponsor to support the good works the chamber does and so that the community has an enjoyable fall festival to gather at and help keep the small town feeling going well into the future.”

For more information on Harvestfest including: vendor lists, directions, sponsors, food details, maps, etc please visit www.maineoktoberfest.com or call 207.363.4422

Discovering Maine"s Rocky Coast With Kids: York Beach

By Maine Author Jennifer Ellen Parker

York Harbor Beach, York ME

003-The first weeks of Summer have delivered some of the most incredible weather along the rocky coast of Maine.  We loaded up our boogie boards, towels and lunch and headed for one of our favorite beaches in Southern Maine.  It’s tucked in between a small cliff walk and a popular seaside destination.  It’s one of the few beaches that you can still find free parking if you’re willing to walk a little bit.  We unpacked our car and filled our arms with everything needed for a day at the beach.  The girls were dressed in their striped suits and flip flops  ready to dive into the water the minute we arrived.   We locked our car and headed down towards the perfectly manicured seaside park.  The water glistened from our view atop the cliffs. Families were scattered along the beach and many people were already in the water.   The girls skipped ahead down the stone path, impatient to reach the sand and shells.

The water has been unusually warm this Summer.  I stood in the waves ankle deep and watched as the girls rode their boards all the way onto the shore.   The warm temperature beckoned me in and soon after I was diving underneath the waves and floating next to the girls.  The change of tides kept us on our toes as we constantly had to shift our chairs and towels back towards the rock hill to keep our things dry.   Just as we had run out of space with the arrival of high tide we decided to pack up and head home for a dip in our pool.   Tired and spent from too much sun and fun we clambered up the stone path through the seaside park back towards where we had parked our car.  The girls dragged their boards behind them and as we climbed, I looked back over the beach we had left only minutes before.  How did we get so lucky to be just a short drive away from one of the most beautiful spots on the East Coast?  The horizon was speckled with lobster boats and buoys.  Gulls circled the beach waiting for a snack to be revealed and visitors to the resort were learning how to sail.  I smiled and turned back towards the path lined with fragrant beach roses.  A simple day spent at York Harbor Beach had offered up one of the most fun and inviting days of the Summer.