North Country Calendar full with Adirondack harvest fall events celebrating farms & foods
Northern New York’s calendar is full with fall festivals and events – from a new North Country food festival in Elizabethtown and Lowville’s 8th annual Cream Cheese Festival this Saturday to the Fifth Annual Great Adirondack Rutabaga Festival in Keene later this month–celebrating the region’s farms and foods – from fresh-picked apples and cider to rutabagas and cold-hardy grape wines.
Laurie Davis, who coordinates Adirondack Harvest, the community-based farm and local development and promotion program, says, “These Adirondack Harvest celebrations provide consumers with opportunities to meet farmers, visit farms, taste products and become Adirondack Harvest members. Members receive our marketing and promotional support, quarterly newsletters, workshop invitations, and various premiums from Adirondack Harvest hats and aprons to our Three Farms DVD, Small Farm Rising DVD, gift baskets and the Adirondack Harvest Cookbook with lots of great ideas for serving local foods.”
The following is just a sampling of the events to be found in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Find more options in the online calendars at www.adirondackharvest.com and www.ccenny.com. Davis can be reached at 518-962-4810 x404 or contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension about joining Adirondack Harvest.
New food festival kicks off Adirondack Harvest Festival Week
Saturday, September 15, Elizabethtown, 11am-2:30pm
A Taste of Local
Restaurants showcase favorite appetizers, entrees, desserts featuring local foods; apple dessert cooking contest; petting zoo; balloons, music, demonstrations, $1 tickets toward variously-priced samples at food booths, free admission to museum. Info: Adirondack History Center Museum, 7590 Court Street, 518-873-6466, www.adkhistorycenter.org
Saturday, September 15, Malone, 10am-4pm
Harvest Festival includes BBQ cookoff with maple category, pie contest, Blessing of the Animals, Pet Walk to benefit local shelter, vendors and more at Franklin County Fairgrounds, $1/person or $5/car admission.
Saturday, September 15, Willsboro, 3pm
Ben Wever Farm Tour
Adirondack Harvest member farm, run by the Gillilland family and featuring grass-fed beef, poultry, lamb, trout, eggs, and honey, offers farm tour at 3pm. Info: 518-963-7447, 518-962-4810 x404
Saturday, September 15, Lowville, 11am-6pm
8th Annual Cream Cheese Festival
Downtown venues host all-day cream cheese games, cream cheese mural, New York’s largest cheesecake by KRAFT Foods, children’s discovery park, bands, clown, artists, cow milking contest, milk tray relay; free to attend. Info: 315-376-8688, http://creamcheesefestival.com
Sunday, September 16, Westport, 9am-12pm
DaCy Meadow Forest and Farm Day
Naturalist and outdoor educator Elizabeth Lee introduces 150-acre setting with brief tour of forest trails surrounding DaCy Meadow Farm. Localvore brunch with food harvested in fields alongside forest, including quiches, Dogwood Bread Company products, desserts, $45/person. Info/registration: lakeside5047@gmail.com, 518-962-4756
September 19, Westport, 10am-2pm
Food Preservation Workshop: Pressure Canning Vegetables
Learn how to pressure can vegetables at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County, $10, class size limited, reserve space: 518-962-4810 x401
Sunday, September 23, Keene, 9am-1pm
Fifth Annual Great Adirondack Rutabaga Festival
World-class chefs serve free samples of rutabaga dishes, 2012 Rutabaga King and Queen, Fetch-a-‘baga contest for dogs, Mr. ‘Bagahead decorating contest for kids, clown, educational exhibits, music, High Peaks Hula Hoop championship. Food tent admission $5 ($15 family max.) Preregister for 5K Fun Run: 518-962-4810 x404, Active.com, www.adirondackharvest.com/rutabaga.html
September 29-30, Jefferson County, all-day
Harvest Tour Weekend
Tour cider mill; visit vineyard, fruit nursery, livestock, and vegetable farm; lead alpacas through obstacle course; meet friendly goats and huge hogs; pick pumpkins; visit stores specializing in local products; taste local foods and wine. Find locations and info:
www.agvisit.com, www.comefarmwithus.com, or www.adirondackharvest.com
October 6, Rensselaer Falls
A Day at the Farm
Annual Farm Bureau event hosted by Allen and Mary Kelly’s Dairy Farm.
October 25, Westport, 6-9pm, Food Preservation Workshop
Learn how to make apple jelly and pie filling at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County, $10, class size limited, reserve space: 518-962-4810 x401. #
Posted: September 14th, 2012 under Adirondack Region News, Agricultural News, Business News, General News, Things to do in & near Peru.