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Fall Harvest Festival set for Oct. 5
A local tradition returns to Mountain Home next week as the chamber of commerce hosts its 17th Annual Fall Harvest Festival on Oct. 5.
Hosted by the chamber's community activities committee, the event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day in the city's downtown area.
The celebration grew from the city's former Oktoberfest into an event designed to mark the end of southern Idaho's annual farming season. It represents a final activity for the community before the winter begins -- a final outdoor get together, organizers said.
Everybody enjoys coming to the downtown core area to sample the different types of food while stopping by all the stores and vendors in this part of town each year, according to Dan Collins, a spokesman for this year's festival. Those that attend the yearly event also enjoy the opportunity to visit with people they only get a chance to meet during special occasions like this each year.
It's this sense of community spirit drives organizers to continue traditions like the harvest festival, according to Collins.
Event organizers plan to host most of this year's activities in the city's core downtown area near the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce and Mountain Home Historical Museum. A majority of these events will fill a stretch of South 3rd East Street with side streets closed to vehicle traffic.
To date, more than 30 vendors have already signed up and will sell homemade crafts, food and more.
"We expect a lot of vendors," Collins said. "We'll probably fill all of our vendor spaces."
With ten days to go before the festival, organizers continue to add events to the day's schedule.
"It'll include a little bit of everything for everybody," Collins said.
Among the attractions returning this year is the "Dinner on a Farmer" promotion. Each year, local growers donate some of their produce, which is then given to harvest participants. During a giveaway in 2012, volunteers from Richard McKenna Charter High School handed out hundreds of pound of potatoes, onions and beans that came from these farms.
Collins estimates that this food was capable of providing meals for 500 local area families. Outreach programs like this remain as part of an overall effort to raise awareness and protect farming and dairy industries in the county.
Also returning this year is the festival's annual pie baking contest where local residents can showcase their culinary talents. Those interested in entering the competition are asked to submit their entry form to the chamber office by Tuesday afternoon.
Another harvest event making its debut is a scarecrow competition. Open to individuals, businesses, private organizations and school groups, the contest requires contestants to create a scarecrow from scratch, which will then go on display near the festival's entertainment stage during the day.
Festival goers will then vote on their favorite creation with the winner announced at 3 p.m. The top prize includes $50 in Chamber Bucks.
"This is something fun that the Fall Harvest committee would like to start doing each year," said Mindy Cuevas, chamber of commerce executive director.
Children will have a chance to earn prizes during a pumpkin scavenger hunt held throughout the day. Volunteers will have out maps to children showing the location of pumpkins hidden throughout the Fall Harvest grounds.
Youngsters that locate the hidden pumpkins receive a stamp on their map. Once they've finished finding the elusive pumpkins, they can take their completed maps to the chamber office where they will receive their prizes.
"We're really encouraging businesses to host booths involved in these contests," Collins added. Having these tables and tents in front of these local stores would also encourage visitors to stop by and see what these shops have to offer.
Entry forms for the pie baking and scarecrow contests are now available at the chamber of commerce office or online at www.mountainhomechamber.com.
During the day, the Mountain Home Historical Museum will offer free hayrides through the downtown areas of Mountain Home from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day starting at the caboose display at Railroad Park. During these guided tours, museum officials will point out different city landmarks and historical structures built during the city's earliest days.
Organizers continued this week to add more entertainers to this year's lineup. Among those expected to take the stage next to the chamber office include local musicians and bands, dance team performances as well as a Tae Bo demonstration.
In addition, members of the Oasis Volunteer Fire Department will hold a community yard sale with proceeds benefitting the rural organization. Meanwhile, adults will have a chance to sample brews from Treasure Valley micro breweries at a beer garden tent located near the chamber of commerce building.
For more information on this year's Fall Harvest Festival, call the chamber of commerce at 587-4334.