The Granddaddy of All Harvest Festivals
Breathes there a man, woman, or child with soul so dead that he/she hasn’t always secretly wanted to take a ride in a cherry picker? Now’s your chance.
Ever since 1935, mid-Great Depression, the Berkshire Botanical Garden has rallied its neighbors and supporters each October to celebrate the season at the Berkshire Harvest Festival. This plucky little Oktoberfest, one of the nation’s oldest, has endured through good times and bad because, ultimately, no matter what else is going on, a man’s gotta have his ration of fried dough, a woman’s gotta rummage for bargains, and little kids have gotta have all manner of fun. Last year, over 15,000 people turned out.
This year, as always, besides cherry-picker rides, there will be traditional crafts demonstrations and live music, including the Berkshire Ramblers led by WAMC’s host Alan Chartock and a Sunday morning Gospel by Higher Help. There will be BBQ chicken and smoked ribs, and if that’s a little too 1935 for your taste, there will also be panini and samosa. Berkshire Grown will be on hand to make sure you eat your vegetables, and the Housatonic Valley Art League will have all sorts of uplifting things for you to look at and buy. If you are feeling lucky, place a silent auction bid for an evening at the opera, back stage passes to numerous concerts, a teak garden lounger, or a vacation in Mexico, to name but a few of the offerings.
So, this weekend, place a clamp on the old misery drip (CNCB, CNN, Fox News, etc.) and head over to Stockbridge, where, for a few hours, at least, you and yours can forget your troubles and indulge in a little innocent, inexpensive fun.
74th Annual Berkshire Harvest Festival
Berkshire Botanical Garden
Rtes 183 & 102, Stockbridge, 413.298.3926
Saturday & Sunday, October 4 & 5, 10 – 5
Silent auction bidding: Saturday only, 10 - 3
Admission: $10.00 per vehicle (no pets) .
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Posted by Marilyn Bethany on 10/01/08 at 03:02 PM • Permalink
