NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

August 21, 2008--Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Get ready for the 74th Annual Berkshire Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 4th and Sunday, October 5th from 10:00 -- 5:00 at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge. For generations, the Harvest Festival has been a cherished tradition in the Berkshires. Originally conceived as a harvest-season family and community festival, it is one of the largest and longest-running events of its kind in the country.

Harvest Festival is first and foremost a celebration of community, showcasing local artisans of the highest quality, supporting local services, and promoting a wide array of Berkshire area products. In addition to the many individual artists and crafters, this year the Housatonic Valley Art League is back under their big tent. This non-profit whose mission is to support art and artists throughout the Housatonic Valley will be selling their paintings and educating the community about their organization. Visit www.sheffieldartleague.org for more information.

Also of particular regional interest, this year's Harvest Festival will highlight Berkshire Grown foods and produce, with cheese makers such as Cricket Creek Farm, bakeries like Pittsfield Rye Bakery and Albert's Cookies. In addition to local foods, there will be local crafters such as wreath-makers, blacksmiths and spinners demonstrating their skills.

Entertainment...
On the main stage there will be a children's show daily at 1 PM and great music for the whole family including the old time sounds of Moonshine Holler, The Berkshire Ramblers led by WAMC host Alan Chartock and the, plus a Sunday morning Gospel wake up with Higher Help. In addition to his main stage performance, bluesman Frank Schapp will be parked under a tree throughout the festival, as will perennial favorite steel drum musician Mentos who will play requests in Caribbean style. Elsewhere on the grounds, the Violin Girlz will delight passers by with strains of Mozart, and as always, the traditional Pocket Lady will be roaming the grounds to the delight of children.

Great Food...
As always, Harvest Festival means great food! The Red Lion Inn will once again donate their famous Butternut Bisque, which will be sold along with many delicious pies to raise money for the garden. In the food court, along with festival favorites such as bratwurst, curly potatoes and fried dough, the restaurants will offer such sumptuous temptations as BBQ chicken, smoked ribs, Indian samosas and Panini sandwiches. Of course Barrington Brewery and Java Hut Coffee Roasters will be on hand to quench thirsts, while So-Co Creamery with their delicious homemade ice cream and locally famous Dutch Desserts will be there to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth.

Magical Kids' Fun...
The two days of magical kids' fun includes Pony Rides, Hay Rides, a Haunted House, the ever-popular Hay Jump, Animal Exhibits, and our Hay Maze for smaller tykes. Strap in for Haupt Tree Company's Cherry Picker Ride, which takes you up high enough to see most of the county. There are also Races, Face Painting, Children's Crafts, Mini-Golf and Games. Did we mention the Pumpkin Toss?

Local Crafts...
Harvest Festival's focus on the handcrafted showcases over a hundred of the most gifted (and reasonably priced) artisans and crafters from five Massachusetts' counties and from the surrounding New England States. It's never too early for holiday shopping! Victorian dried wreaths, framed pressed botanicals, quilted items, painted floor cloths, locally made herbal body care products, hand crafted pottery, home-spun yarn, photography, hand-made clothing, jewelry, baskets, rag dolls, old-fashioned toys and more.

Special Items...
Harvest Festival offers its traditional Opportunity Clothing sale, featuring some of the finest used clothing anywhere, as well as Reggie's Famous Giant Two-Day Tag Sale. Both have been big attractions in past years. (Reggie has been running the Tag Sale for almost 30 years!) A great Country Bazaar features bargains galore and the 1200 square foot Lenox Garden Club Book Sale is not to be missed! Shopping at Harvest Festival supports the educational programs of the Garden, and also helps support your neighbors during the holiday season.

Silent Auction....
Harvest Festival's acclaimed Silent Auction again features something for every taste -- An evening at the opera? Backstage passes? A teak garden lounger? Vacation in Mexico? From dinners in your favorite restaurants to fine works of art, you can get it here! Each year outshines the one before with amazing items to bid on -- and deals to be had! Silent Auction is Saturday, October 4th only. Bidding begins at 10:00 am and closes at 3:00 pm sharp.

All proceeds benefit the Berkshire Botanical Garden and its educational programming. For more information contact the Berkshire Botanical Garden at 413-298-3926 or visit them on the web at www.berkshirebotanical.org . Parking is only $10.00 per vehicle so bring your friends and enjoy this beloved Berkshire tradition.

For interview requests, digital images or more information please contact Justin Brown at public emily, 413-527-4900 or by email at justin@publicemily.com.