The Harvest Festival of All Harvest Festivals!

Saturday and Sunday
October 4 & 5
10:00- 5:00

Get ready for the 74th Annual Berkshire Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5 from 10:00 -- 5:00 at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge. For generations, Harvest Festival has been a cherished tradition here 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.  Last year this family fun event attracted over 15,000 individuals over the weekend.

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. 

Vendors and exhibitors welcome: click here to download an application.

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. Kids can also enjoy Face Painting, Mini-Golf, Children's Crafts and Games. Did we mention the Pumpkin Toss??!!

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.

Local Crafts
Harvest Festival’s focus on the handcrafted showcases nearly a hundred of the most gifted (and reasonably priced) artisans and crafters from five counties. It’s not too early for holiday shopping! Victorian dried wreaths, framed pressed botanicals, quilted items, locally made herbal body care products, hand crafted pottery, home-spun yarn, old fashioned brooms, hand-made clothing, jewelry, baskets, rag dolls, old-fashioned toys, handmade candles and soaps 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!) The 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.

Great Food
This year, along with Harvest Festival favorites such as bratwurst, curly potatoes, and fried dough, the restaurants will include such sumptuous offerings as BBQ chicken, smoked ribs, Indian samosas, and panini sandwiches.   Of course Barrington Brewery and Java Hut coffee roasters will be there, and to satisfy your sweet-tooth both So-Co Creamery featuring homemade ice cream and locally-famous Dutch Desserts will be happy to serve you.

Silent Auction
Harvest Festival’s acclaimed Silent Auction again features something for every taste -- An evening at the opera? Back stage 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 previous with amazing items to bid on -- and deals to be had! Silent Auction is Saturday, October 6th only. Bidding begins at 10:00 am and closes at 3:00 pm sharp.

All proceeds benefit the Berkshire Botanical Garden and it’s educational programs.  For more information contact the Berkshire Botanical Garden at 413-298-3926. The Festival is located at the junction of Routes 183 and 102 in Stockbridge.  Parking is $10.00 per vehicle (so be sure to bing the entire family and your friends too!) and all pets must be left at home.