It's almost October, and the weather is (finally) feeling
like fall. No wonder that harvest festivals are popping up everywhere. These
festivals run the gamut from single-day, ingredient-themed festivities (such as
pumpkins or apples), or celebrate a more general harvest theme; some are
strictly entertainment, others raise money for good causes. What follows is
just a sampling of what you can find over the next couple of weeks.
Deephaven's Church of St. Therese has one of the metro area's
largest fall church events with its annual
Oktoberfest. Events kick off Oct. 3 with
a family fun run, blessing of the animals, a polka mass and brat dinner; Oct.
10 is the big day, with a kids carnival, silent auction, a polka band and
Boogie Wonderland, and plenty of food and beer.
Pinehaven Farm takes the harvest festival
concept very seriously -- but in a fun way, of course -- by celebrating the
harvest every day through October. Mini-train rides, pumpkin patch, peddle
tractors and trike tracks, magic shows, Halloween parties and even a pumpkin
cannon.
The folks at the
Minnesota Historical Society wouldn't
let an opportunity like harvest season pass by without exploring it. At
Historic Forestville, Oct. 3 is Harvest
Day, with demonstrations of old-time farm implements and farming techniques,
apple-cider pressing, quilting and grain fanning. There will also be free
pumpkins for kids. On Oct. 17, Forestville will have Apple Butter Day, making
apple butter the old-fashioned way -- in hand-pounded copper kettles over open
flames.
Johnny Appleseed Days will take place
Oct. 3-4 in Lake City. But it's not just about the apples -- there's a chili cook-off,
a kids pedal tractor pull, scarecrow find, a craft fair and a farmers' market
and food.
The first two weekends in October, apples are the star at
Afton
Apple's Apple Festival. Enjoy a hayride, pick some apples, watch
cider being pressed and munch on apple-based goodies.
Oct. 10 is the day for Aurora's
Pumpkin Fest. Craft and quilt shows,
clowns, food and even stagecoach rides will be offered.
A "harvest" festival of a different sort is
held in Middle River.
Goose Fest features goose-calling contests,
live music, parades and food of all sorts, including Uffda Tacos.
Williams celebrates Potato Day on Oct. 10 with a parade,
a potato cook-off, live entertainment and a dance. (No mention if they match
Barnesville's annual tradition of
mashed potato wrestling.)
What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out
the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly
segment,
Finding
Minnesota.
