Sharon Springs will honor local agriculture with its annual Harvest Festival this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at spots throughout village.
The hub of activities will be the Sharon Springs Farmer's Market on Main Street, where events will include:
• Goat-milking demonstrations at 11am and 3pm both Saturday and Sunday.
• A farm animal petting zoo Saturday and at 1pm, a horseshoe-throwing contest.
Also Saturday only, cow bingo.
• A pumpkin painting contest beginning Sunday at 10am, and at 1pm, a seed-spitting contest.
Tours of the Beekman Farm are already sold out but the 1802 Mercantile will be open as will the rest of the village's shops.
Art attractions will include "Pictures from an Exhibition," a retrospective of photographs by Leila Durkin at the Village Hall Gallery, beginning at 10am Friday; and an exhibit by blacksmith Michael McCarthy at BANK, beginning Saturday.
The Spring House Spa will host an exhibit on the history of the spas in Sharon Springs, "Sharon Springs: A Landscape of Memory," by artist Dora Gardener and on the steps of The Cobbler, tinsmith Chris Ottoman will demonstrate his craft.
Friday's festivities will include the 2nd annual Harvest Hop at the Sharon Springs Fire House.
There's a charge and space is limited. Go to EnjoySharonSprings.com to see if there's still room.
From 9-9:30am Saturday there will be an interdenominational Blessing of the Bounty of the Harvest in Chalybeate Park and throughout the weekend, the Harvest Festival will feature more than 100 craftsmen, farmers, artisanal food and displays.
At 11am Saturday there will be dry-casting fly fishing lessons in front of the Mercantile, followed by walking architectural tours of the village by historian Nancy Pfau, beginning at 2pm.
Tour spots are limited; tickets are available at EnjoySharonSprings.com.
At 3pm, the documentary, "The First Season," detailing the lives of local farmers Phyllis and Paul van Amburgh as they start up their organic dairy farm, will be screened in the Community Room of the Sharon Springs Library. Free.
Local restaurants will be offering harvest-themed meals and from 4-7pm there will be an ALS "Doing it for Dodi" spaghetti supper benefit at the Sharon Springs Fire House.
Sunday, the day will kick off with a traditional Native American thanksgiving address at 204 Main; Harvest Fest activities will continue throughout the day.
Music all weekend will be provided by the Sharon Springs Citizens Council on the Arts, a shuttle bus will be available continuously between parking and events, and a respite station for dogs will be available at the New York House on Center Street; watch for the signs.