Harvest Festival returns for 13th year with music, food, games

By LAURA SCHILLER 

The Pound Ridge Harvest Festival returns this year with an afternoon of live music, Oktoberfest-inspired food and drink and family-friendly fun. Hosted by the Pound Ridge Partnership, the festival takes place Saturday, Oct. 4, from 1 to 6 p.m., at Pound Ridge Town Park.

Now in its 13th year, the Harvest Festival has grown from a small downtown street event into one of northern Westchester’s most anticipated community gatherings, drawing a few thousand attendees each year. But the idea began much more modestly.

Kevin Long, co-chair of the Harvest Festival Committee and a middle school rowing coach, remembers the spark well. One evening in 2011, some friends gathered at their local watering hole, basking in the success of Pound Ridge Pride, the Partnership’s first major fundraising event.

“We thought, wouldn’t it be great to have an Oktoberfest right in the middle of town?” Long recalls. With just a few weeks to prepare, they scrambled to pull it off. Thanks to a friend with deep connections in the New York City music scene, they secured a stage and a band, and the first Pound Ridge Harvest Festival was born.

For its first four years, the festival unfolded in the heart of town before moving to the larger Town Park, which provided more space for kids’ activities, vendors and family-friendly programming. Long notes that the concept was loosely modeled after a 19th century harvest festival once held in Pound Ridge, when farmers from across New York gathered to celebrate their harvest near what is now a reservoir. That link to the past was uncovered by a founding committee member who also served as the town historian.

The festival has also developed its own unique traditions, none more beloved than the Root Beer Garden. On a walk-through before the first event, Long explained the adult beer garden to his young son, Axl, who asked if there would be a “root beer garden” for kids. Ever since, volunteers have faithfully served up root beer floats. This year, the area takes on a Harry Potter theme, complete with “butterbeer.”

Music remains the centerpiece of the day. This year’s headliner, the Record Company, is a Grammy-nominated rock trio from Los Angeles, known for their gritty blend of blues, rock and soul. Sharing the bill are the Soul Rebels, an acclaimed New Orleans-based brass band famous for their genre-bending style, and local acoustic artist John Praino, who will open with soulful covers. The stage and sound system are provided through the generous support of Steven Bensusan, president of Blue Note Entertainment Group.

“The music is really the main draw,” says Pound Ridge Partnership president James Best.

But there’s something for everyone. 

“There are four main parts of the festival — a fun kids’ area, live music, delicious food and vendor booths,” Best said.

Children can enjoy inflatables, games, prizes and activities, while food trucks line the park with everything from pizza and Tex-Mex to ice cream. Local favorites like Kitchen Table and BreadsNBakes add hometown flavor, while adults can sample beer and wine from regional purveyors. About 40 vendor booths will showcase crafts, community organizations and local businesses.

Best, an architect who has lived in Pound Ridge since 1979 and served on the Partnership board for nearly eight years, says the festival is about more than entertainment. “Through putting on the event and the money we’ve raised, we’ve put that back into the Scotts Corners area,” he said, noting that the group’s mission focuses on revitalizing the downtown corridor from the library down Westchester Avenue to the Connecticut border. Past projects have helped transform the area into a thriving hub.

After two years of cancellations due to weather and scheduling challenges, the return feels especially meaningful.

“From the very first events, people have always told us this is their favorite thing in Pound Ridge,” Long says. “This year feels like a welcome back and we’re very happy to continue the tradition.”

Festival parking is at Pound Ridge Elementary School, 7 Pound Ridge Road, with shuttle buses to the park. Admission is free, with parking set at $35 in advance ($40 day-of). Games, food and drinks are purchased through a ticket system, with beer and wine sales providing a major boost to fundraising. VIP tickets include on-site parking, access to a tented lounge, front-of-stage viewing and a commemorative Harvest Festival glass.

This year’s festival is sponsored by organizations including Hudson Valley Connect, Purple Plains and Marshall Oil Co., along with many local businesses. All proceeds go toward the Partnership’s ongoing revitalization efforts.

For more information visit poundridgeharvestfestival.com.