HARVEST FESTIVAL 2023 Come to Alyson's Orchard on Oct. 15 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) for a full day of activities for all ages. Lots of food, craft vendors, local companies, a beer and wine tent, and live music all day. Plus a chili cookoff, apple pie eating contest

The time for the annual Harvest Festival is upon us when we can celebrate the abundance of autumn and everything the Monadnock Region has to offer. &emsp;&emsp;The 2023 event, co-hosted by The Keene Sentinel's Monadnock Table magazine and Alyson's Orchard, will take place on Oct. 15 for the second year in a row at Alyson's Orchard, which has new owners — Adam and Taylor Naeck who purchased the 350-acre property and business from founder Susan Jasse in early January. Jasse and her late husband, Bob, established the longtime orchard, farmstand and event venue on Route 12 in Walpole in the 1980s. &emsp;&emsp;Among the main events at the festival will be live music all day long on the mainstage, along with a line of food trucks and an artist showcase featuring dozens of vendors offering hand-knitted and crocheted items, T-shirts, jewelry, handmade soaps, fine art, maple products, body care items, wood carving and wood crafts, jams and baked goods, candles, dog treats, handmade cards and so much more. &emsp;&emsp;Most of the festival will be set up in the orchard parking lot, although some vendors will be set up within the orchard itself. &emsp;&emsp;Those with a competitive nature will be satisfied with an apple pie eating contest (organized by age group), a pet talent show (for leashed pets that need to be cleaned up behind) and a chili cookoff. &emsp;&emsp;Wildlife Encounters Ecology & Wellness Center, a nature preserve in Barrington and a licensed wildlife sanctuary in Rochester that offers humane live animal educational outreach programs across New England will be on-hand for kids of all ages doing live demonstrations showcasing exotic animals. &emsp;&emsp;Of course, no fall festival would be complete without kids' activities. The festival is partnering with the Cheshire Children's Museum to offer children a place to make a scarecrow, receive their own balloon art, decorate pumpkins, make apple stamp cards or have their faces painted. &emsp;&emsp;Giant lawn games such as bowling, chess, checkers, cornhole and jenga will be provided by Games2go in Keene, and there will be a touch-a-truck/tractor station, a petting zoo, a playground and horse-drawn wagon rides available for young people. &emsp;&emsp;Adults can stop in at the beer and wine tent operated by Alyson's Orchard staff; and visit the farmstand stocked with locally-made products for sale, including jam, honey, maple syrup, apple and chicken pot pies and donuts as well as pick-your-own bags (or pre-picked bags) for apples. &emsp;&emsp;The tavern, which has ample seating and a new outdoor patio, will also be open, as will 18 new "glamping" sites. &emsp;&emsp;"Our hope is that families come and spend the day," says Brendalee Edwards, event organizer. "It's an activity-packed schedule that's really affordable." &emsp;&emsp;The Harvest Festival will be held Sunday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Alyson's Orchard, 57 Alyson's Lane in Walpole, New Hampshire. &emsp;&emsp;Visit sentinelsource.com/harvest_festival for a complete schedule of activities, to sign up to be a vendor, food truck or artist, to see the vendor showcase and to purchase tickets (tickets can also be purchased onsite the day of the event). Sponsors (NOTE: PLEASE INCLUDE EACH SPONSORS' LOGO) Alyson's Orchard Consolidated Faith's Ford Fenton Family Dealership Cheshire Medical center Food Trucks Frisky Cow Gelato Home Run Hotdogs LLC J&B Curbside Café Kona Ice New England Dairy Mobile Bar Orchard Tavern Tricia's Kitchen Yahso Foods Artists Gail Shelly Karen Fortier The Laughing Fox Studio Nancy Hillier Rabbit Dog Fine Arts Roma Glow Photography Vendors Auntie M's Country LivingBlueberry BakeryBuddie SweatersCandy Color StudiosCira's Soaps Colorful Creations Cracked Glass NH LLCCrafty Creations by LindaCustom Designs by JenDavid TuttleDoug the Devil Stick Man EntertainmentHappy CrafterHungry HoundInner Daisy CandlesJacqui's GlassiclesJillson FarmsJurg JenzerKE CreationsKK's Kozie GiftsKeene SentinelLaneou Maple FarmLen LinLux LifestyleMetalmazingMidnight MaplesQuilting by EllenSensory CandlesSherrie PaltrineriSunflower Herba lSoapsThe Children's MuseumThe Crafting SistersThe Preserved GardenTheresa Staples, Avon ConsultantTricia's TreasuresVibrant Rose CarvingsVintage ThimbleWildlife EncountersLittle Beans Bucket Music Dragon Fly Hailing from the Monadnock Region of NH and making music together for more than a decade, this group of talented, professional musicians offers an eclectic mix of classic and new Rock, Blues, Folk, Bluegrass, Country and more ... with funky grooves, rich vocals, amazing guitar and lots of soul and harmony! Glitter and Camo A unique mix of rock and country, old favorites and the latest hits. Baba Ray BabaRay plays a mix of dusty blues, smoky jazz, and high-energy groove funky tunes. Activities Beer/Wine TentBuild-Your-Own ScarecrowChili Cook-OffDecorate a PumpkinFace PaintingGiant Lawn GamesHorse Drawn Wagon Rides Through the OrchardHot Air Balloon Dance Party with Damn Yankee BalloonsPet TalenShowPetting ZooPie Eating Contest (by Age Group)Stamp With Apple StampsTouch-a-TruckWildlife Encounters And more surprises to come!