Williamstown Township is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 5, 2024 from 11am-4pm at Williamstown Township Community Park, 525 E. Grand River between Zimmer and Meridian Roads. The Township Harvest Festival is a free community event featuring local businesses and performers. While highlighting the harvest season, we hope to engage residents in family activities and exhibits.
This year's event will include:
M&Ms Farms presents mini cart rides featuring Winnie the Pony.
Family art activities and games - includes pumpkin decorating and a tree planting project!
Michigan Avian Experience - this exhibit features Horned Owls and Birds of Prey. 12-3:00pm
Michigan Land Conservancy - learn how the Conservancy protects and preserves natural, scenic, recreational, and agricultural lands in Mid Michigan. Come visit the goats!
Michigan Barn Preservation Network - Learn about Michigan barns and the efforts made to preserve these historic structures. Ask about the Teamwork & Timbers mini barn build project.
Selfie Station - guests are encouraged to take photos in our Harvest Festival set.
Nature Discovery will exhibit live Michigan snakes, turtles, lizards, frogs and salamanders! Please be advised that this exhibit is weather dependent. 11:00AM - 3:30PM
Flore Farms will host an apple cider press demonstration with free samples to taste.
Outdoor Connect will exhibit adventures on the trails in Michigan and nationally. Visit the trail bunnies (weather permitting.)
Von Tersch Farms - this exhibit features information about Paw Paw fruit and Dahila flowers farming. Contact at vonterschfarm73@gmail.com
Geocaching - check in at the Welcome Table for information.
Face Painting with Jessica
Old Oak Farm - provides an old fashioned hayride through the Township park.
Folk band performances by:
The Red Cedar River Boys performing at 11AM to 1PM
Deer & Elk performing 1:30PM to 3:30PM
Food Vendors:
Diederich's Produce Farm - featuring home made donuts and cider.
Zulema's Mexican Food - featuring authentic Mexican cuisine.
Check back for event schedule. More items will be added soon.
Why a Harvest Festival?
Historically Harvest Festivals celebrate that time of year when farmers gather crops from the fields and people can reflect on the food that they have. Harvest Festivals date back to ancient Britain when people relied on cultivated crops for food, and farmers would give thanks for a good harvest.
The Harvest Festival tradition predates Christianity to pagan times. The name derives from the Old English word 'Haerfest' meaning 'Autumn'. In the United States, historians believe the first gathering of people for a harvest celebration was in 1621 between the Wampanoag Indian tribe and the Pilgrims who had immigrated to America the previous year. This celebration evolved into our modern day Thanksgiving dinner tradition.
Harvest Festivals coincide with the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox. In the Northern Hemisphere, the autumnal equinox is the first day of fall and is the day when the Earth is perfectly angled sideways to the sun; during this 
period day and night are of equal duration. Harvest Festivals usually take place on the Sunday nearest to the autumnal equinox. In 2023 the autumnal equinox is on Saturday, September 23rd at 2:49 AM. The nearest full moon to that date is called the Harvest Moon and this year happens on Friday, September 29th at 5:58 AM. The Harvest Moon may occur occasionally in October. The Harvest Moon provides helpful light to farmers to extend the harvest day into night.
Harvest Festivals have been celebrated worldwide. For example, the ancient Egyptian festival occurred during the spring-time harvest. The festival was dedicated to Min, the Egyptian god of vegetation and fertility. This festival included a parade in which the Pharaoh was carried through the town, followed by a great feast. The Egyptian people celebrated with music, dancing, and sports.
Modern Harvest Festivals are celebrated at places such as churches, schools, and community parks. The celebrations may include music, dancing, and sports like the Egyptian festivals and incorporate seasonal activities. Williamstown Township has organized our Harvest Festival celebration to include music, physical and creative activities, educational exhibits and, of course, food.
To learn more about the history of harvest festivals click on the links below.
Wikipedia - Harvest Festivals
Kids Connect - About Harvest Festivals
