The Hopewell Harvest Fair is set to take place for the 30th straight year, this year on the grounds of Hopewell Elementary School.
The Hopewell Harvest is a volunteer community event meant to provide a day of fun and entertainment for the whole family. Funds raised at the fair are donated to local organizations that provide services to the community. Fair organizers report donating more than $200,000 to nonprofits since 1987. Among the groups receiving grants in 2015 were the Hopewell Valley Chorus, the Hopewell Public Library, HomeFront and Womanspace.
This year’s fair will kick off on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. with a message from the mayor and a performance of the national anthem by the Hopewell Valley Regional High School Black and Gold Band.
A day of entertainment under the big tent is planned, such as family-friendly activities, including hay rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, children’s games, face painting and a straw maze to explore. Local food vendors and farmers will be showcasing their goods.
There will also be contests, including a bake-off, a homegrown vegetable contest, kids’ art, photography, “Find Freddy” and a doggie dress-up contest.
Musical entertainment scheduled for throughout the day. At 10:30, Due South, a country band based on New Jersey’s North Shore, will perform. All For Bettee, a local cover band, will play a wide range of music from R&B to rock starting at 11:30 a.m.
At 12:45, the Brodegas, a Lambertville-based classic rock group, will play, followed by the Paul Plumeri Trio’s blues at 2 p.m. Bon Ton Calydeco will wrap up the musical entertainment from 3 to 4 pm. with Caribbean-inspired pieces.
Local businesses will also set up shop for the day in “Business Alley,” where area banks, shops, schools and even doctors and specialists will be lined up in pop up tents to engage with residents. Local crafters will also be setting up shop to display their handmade wares.
Part of the Harvest Fair tradition is kept alive through the Almanac, the event program that continues to be printed and distributed in local shops around town prior to the big event.
The Hopewell Harvest Fair will take place on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 25. More information is online at hopewellharvestfair.org.
The Almanac will be released in early September. To volunteer, email volunteer@hopewellharvestfair.org or fill out a volunteer sign-up form available on the website.
