Be a part of York’s 24th Annual Harvestfest celebration from Oct. 17 to 19

Enjoy the best of autumn in York with this year's Harvestfest, scheduled for Oct. 17 through 19 with arts, entertainment and special events in both York Village and York Beach.
Photo by Tori Rasche

YORK - Whether your passion is arts and crafts, local history, fine entertainment or just the beauty of the autumn season, you're sure to find something wonderful at the 24^th Annual Harvestfest.

This year's event, again presented by the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce with many supporting sponsors, is a celebration of all the things that make York a wonderful place to be in the fall begins on Oct. 17 and continues through Oct. 19.

Friday's events are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include the Old Fashioned Marketplace with arts and crafts from across the country as well as a food festival on the Village Green.

Free trolley service at 20-minute intervals will be offered from Ellis Park at Short Sands Beach to York Village throughout the day.

The Museums of Old York, local church groups and many other community organizations offer special events in conjunction with Harvestfest. For example, the Women's Fellowship of First Parish Church will hold its annual "Colonial Market" in Fellowship Hall, featuring arts and crafts, "attic treasures," antiques and collectibles, baked goods, raffles, fine art, new and gently-used books and much more on both Friday and Saturday of Harvestfest from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Oct. 18, the Harvestfest activities begin bright and early in the morning with the opening parade and ceremony at 9:45 a.m. as the York Militia march from the Village Square to the First Parish Church steps with the town crier while state and local dignitaries are expected to arrive on a horse-drawn wagon.

Saturday's activities in York Village will also include the family-favorite known as Kidsfest, the juried craft show, an ox roast, live entertainment and the esplanade, which showcases local nonprofit organizations.

Also on Saturday, at the York Beach Ballpark, there will be more crafts and live entertainment as well as a brand new Harvestfest event, the Corn Toss Challenge, sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank.

Sometimes called the Tailgate Toss or Corn Hole Toss, this nationally sanctioned competition will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is being presented by the chamber, York Education Foundation and Bangor Savings Bank, and the York Education Foundation is currently soliciting businesses to sponsor a two-person team of teachers for $100 per team for this event, with 100 percent of the proceeds from the registration fee/sponsorship going directly to benefit the foundation's work within the York Schools. Businesses may also sponsor their own team, if they would prefer, for this event, which organizers believe is destined to become a centerpiece of the festival. For all the details on how to play, visit www.playcornhole.org/rules.shtml. To find out whether there's still time to register a team, call the chamber at 363-4422.

Harvestfest fun at Short Sands will then continue on into the evening with favorite activities like the Annual Pumpkin Stroll, where participants will carve their own pumpkins in advance and bring them down to York Beach for everyone to enjoy.

Saturday's free trolley service will be offered between Ellis Park, York High School, Coastal Ridge Elementary and York Middle School. There will also be a trolley running to and from activities at the York Beach Ball Park.

On Sunday, Oct. 19, Harvestfest events will be held in York Beach, including the Classic Car Show through the beach. Under the big top at the ball field, there will be the crafts fair, refreshments and the Native American Pow-Wow, as well as the "Reap the Harvest" t-shirt raffle prize drawing. A limited number of this year's t-shirts and limited edition posters, which also serve as the tickets for the raffle, are on sale through the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce.