For the fifth year, the community of Sharon Springs expects to welcome more than 8,000 visitors this Saturday and Sunday when it hosts its Harvest Festival.
Conceived as a way to celebrate agriculture and small-town life, the event will feature more than 130 craftsman, farmers, artisanal food and displays and local businesses and shops will also be open.
There will be pumpkin painting for kids, Cow Bingo, and a chance to "meet" local farm animals.
The Harvest Fest begins Friday with a Harvest Feast at The American Hotel featuring all locally sourced food.
The feast will be hosted by Barbara Melera, the CEO of Landreth Seeds, the oldest seed house in America.
Tickets are required; contact The American Hotel at 284-2105 for more information.
Saturday and Sunday, festivities will run from 9-5.
Tours of the Beekman Farm are already sold out, but copies of the new Beekman 1802 Heirloom Desserts Cookbook will debut at the Beekman 1802 Mercantile.
Copies signed by authors Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge will be available to purchase.
At 11:30am there will be a lecture and book signing by Margaret Roach, author of "The Backyard Parables," and former editor-in-chief of Martha Stewart Living.
There is a small charge; proceeds will benefit restoration efforts in Chalyebeate Park.
At 2pm, there will be a walking architectural tour of the village led by a member of the Sharon Historical Society, beginning on the steps of the Mercantile. Suggested donation.
From 4-7pm there will be a fundraising spaghetti dinner for ALS, "Doing it for Dodi," at the Sharon Springs Fire House.
Throughout the village all weekend there will be live music sponsored by the Sharon Springs Citizens Council on the Arts.
Sunday at 10am, there will be a Native American thanksgiving address in Chalybeate Park.
Repeats from Saturday will include the Beekman Farm (sold out) and walking tours as well as the Harvest Feast along with all on the craftsmen and vendors.
The New York House will offer a respite station for dogs and their owners-look for signs-and a rotating shuttle bus will run both days between Sharon Springs Central School and downtown.