Garrettsville Farmers’ Market has been bringing the community together every Thursday afternoon this summer, celebrating local farmers, artisans and other food producers. Now, as the growing season transitions into the harvest season, the farmers’ market is hosting the first-ever Garrettsville Farmers’ Market Fundraiser and Harvest Fest on Saturday, October 6 at 2-7pm on the Buckeye Block at the corner of Main and Center streets. It will be a stop in the community-wide Passport 44231 Garrettsville Shop Hop event also held that day.
Three regular farmers’ markets remain this season in addition to the Harvest Fest. According to market manager and primary festival organizer Sara Hill, “The Harvest Fest was created to celebrate and close out Garrettsville’s first (and very successful!) market season. Along with the farmers, bakers, and makers of this year’s market, we are tremendously grateful for the support from this awesome community. It’s worth celebrating!”
Harvest Festival activities will include a pumpkin patch, games, photo booth, food, crafts, Touch a Tractor, face painting, a 50/50 raffle, a Chinese auction, and live music (Cellar Door Coffee Company will be sponsoring an encore performance by one of this summer’s musicians, to be announced on Facebook once finalized.) The festival will also feature contests of all sorts: pie-eating, ugliest tomato, biggest zucchini, veggie art, best pie and best chili.
The entry fee for each contest is $5, due in cash when dropping off your entry. Contestants are not required to stay so long as all requested contact information is provided. Pre-entry is preferable, but entries will be accepted until 3pm Saturday, Oct. 6. Entries must be checked in by 3:30pm that day.
People of any age can enter any contest, divided into age groups (children ages 10 and under, children 11 and older, and adults). Each contest will have a first, second and third place winner (with the exception of the pie-eating contest). There will be one winner per age group. All winners will be awarded with a Farmers’ Market t-shirt and/or ribbon. For more contest details, see the Garrettsville Farmers’ Market Fundraiser and Harvest Fest Facebook page.
All proceeds from the festival will be used to help cover remaining operating costs of the 2018 Garrettsville Farmers’ Markets, and for start-up programming costs of the 2019 Farmers’ Market. Hill says, “We’re still working to understand the actual cost of each market, since we’re so new and our operating costs after the vendor fees were offset through outside support.”
She explains that Cellar Door Coffee Co. selected and paid for 11 musicians who performed over the summer, in addition to providing resources to offset operating expenses. In addition, Charles Auto Family sponsored children’s programming, supplies, and activities. Many other businesses and individuals have also contributed throughout the summer to help get the market off the ground in its first year. “We are grateful for the support and already looking forward to next season.”
Considering their debut season success, farmers’ market organizers plan to keep the same schedule next year, starting in June and ending in August. “We’re really pleased with how the market went this year and anticipate maintaining the same great elements next year,” says Hill.
This event is open to new and current vendors, including artisans of handmade goods. People can sign up for the contests or apply to be a vendor on the Garrettsville Farmers’ Market website, garrettsvillemarket.com/harvestfest .
