The 31st Annual Great Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival will take place on October 4-6, 2013, (Friday 12-6pm; Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 10am-6pm)
Sponsors: Tompkins Trust Company, Seneca Beverage Corp., MAINES Paper and Food Service, Inc. and Ithaca Times
As street fairs go, this one is outstanding – full of family entertainment, games, rides, prizes and live performances on two stages. Apple Harvest Festival is a great introduction to the rich farm and artist community of Ithaca. First time visitors can witness a variety of wonderful local entertainment while also visiting the historical outdoor pedestrian shopping mall, The Ithaca Commons. The pedestrian mall is the epicenter of the festival and the gateway to a nostalgic journey to harvest season fun.
The delicacies of the region are at every turn with over 100 vendors selling unique apple varieties, hot apple cider donuts, kettle corn, local farm fresh baked goods and a multitude of around the world specialties. Local farmers are on site selling everything from tasty apple beverages to local pumpkins and of course, apples, apples and more apples. Wineries and cideries have regional beverages available for tasting and purchase. Kids can visit with the goats and learn how fiber is made with Laughing Goat Fiber Farm.
Over 50 different artists display their handmade arts and crafts in the Fall Craft Show including jewelry, ceramics, home decor, body care, specialty gifts, unique sculpture, clothing and so much more.
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Do you want to participate as a vendor in The Apple Harvest Festival?
Deadlines are past but please contact the office to inquire about spaces 607-277-8679.
– Information – (Updated 9/15/2013)
Background: The event started as a small harvest festival in 1982 to showcase the area’s diverse agricultural products. With heavy involvement from Cornell and a partnership with downtown merchants including David Abdulky and Lyle McCartney, the event was strictly a farmers market. Over time, the addition of food and craft vendors, games, and other activities for children grew the event into what it is today. The event attracts an audience of over 30,000 patrons over the three days.
New Attractions:
The CSMA East End Entertainment Area is a new addition for 2013. This fun filled area, chock full of Amish baked goods, local harvest season produce, beer and wine tasting, and a main performance stage, is a new exploration into the local charm of downtown Ithaca. Strong local performers take the stage by day to bring us wonderful dance, song and unique street performances for the duration of the festival. In the evening on Saturday, October 5, entertainment such as The Alash Ensemble and masters of Tuvan throat singing can be found between 8pm – 11pm inside the CSMA as part of their 6th Annual Arts for All Marathon!
The Aurora Street Fairway introduces a fun filled children’s play area to The Apple Harvest Festival. This wonderful street fair, located on the 200 block of North Aurora Street, is a timeless journey down memory lane. Here you can get lost in the charm of waiting for a turn on the ferris wheel, tasting homemade ice cream, or watching street performers. Family fun may even result in a charity fund raising ” pie in the face” for a local student group.
Past Favorites:
Your favorites can still be found in 2013 with some new flair to check out at each new hub. Tasty treats and artistic ware can still be found as usual on the West End of the Commons by the State Theater. There’s a new sound stage to be found on the steps of the State Theatre. Farm goods galore can be found at the new CSMA East End Entertainment Area while families and children are encouraged to visit the Aurora Street Fairway, host to candy apples, jugglers and the ferris wheel.
2013 Location
The festival takes place in the heart of Downtown Ithaca. It starts on the 100 W. Block of State Street and continues through the Commons east toward Cornell University. The walking path of the festival takes you by the large mural project in the Commons of over 200 different art pieces by local organizations and artists. It also leads you by the historic State Theatre, Ithaca Commons, Restaurant Row, and the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA).
The festival will have an additional entertainment area added this year. It is on the east end of the Commons by the CSMA. Here you will find a variety of farm goods, children’s entertainment and a new sound stage for performance. As the Commons undergoes a historic transformation, we are expanding the footprint of the festival.
Transportation & Parking
Getting to the festival is easy. Parking is $5 for the day in both the Green Street Garage and the Seneca Street Garage.
CLICK HERE Walk, Bike, Bus, Carpool to Apple Harvest Festival with Get Your GreenBack Tompkins”.
What is one interesting fact about Ithaca that visitors might learn while attending this festival? Ithaca was named by Bon Appetit Magazine as one of the foodiest towns in America and is home to the famous Moosewood Restaurant. Ithaca has more restaurants per capita than New York City and its unique placement as an urban center within an agricultural region allows for amazing farm to table cuisine. Our farmers market is one of the best in the country and the ice cream sundae was invented here! Apple Harvest festival embodies this spirit in bringing our culinary and agricultural values to the forefront.
Performer Schedule
Coming Soon . . .
Want to Volunteer?
Volunteering is fun and easy at Apple Harvest Festival. email helpoutdowntown@gmail.com for individuals or groups who want to lend a hand locally.
More Events:
Friday
5-8pm – First Friday Gallery Night – A walkable tour of downtown galleries
7pm – Doors open – Paula Poundstone – State Theatre
Saturday
10- 5:30pm – First Peoples’ Festival – Dewitt Park – Saturday only
1-3pm – Instrument Petting Zoo – Kids of all ages try musical instruments – CSMA
6-9pm – Cider Week Apple Harvest Fest After Hours -The Westy
6:30pm- Doors open – Little Apple Fall Follies – Talent Show – State Theatre
8-11pm – Alash Ensemble – masters of Tuvan throat singing – CSMA
Sunday
11am – Doors open – Aladdin and Other Enchanting Tales – All ages production – State Theatre
Additional Community Events During Apple Harvest Festival:
The First Peoples’ Festival:
First Peoples’ Festival is set to take place Saturday October 5, 2013, 10:00am – 5:30pm. The First Peoples’ Festival is a celebration of Indigenous peoples of New York State with traditional music, crafts, displays and foods. It provides an educational opportunity for the public to learn more about the traditions and unlearn the stereotypes connected with Indigenous cultures. The First Peoples’ Festival is in Dewitt Park in partnership with Ithaca’s Apple Harvest Festival.
The festival is co-sponsored by the Multicultural Resource Center, Cornell University and the CU American Indian Program, Ithaca College Center for the Study of Race, Culture and Ethnicity and its Native American Studies Program, Ithaca College Event Services, Home Depot and Downtown Ithaca Alliance in partnership with the Apple Harvest Festival. The festival is funded in part by the Community Arts Partnership and the Tompkins County Tourism Program.
An 11:00 am Traditional opening by Tadodaho Sid Hill, Onondaga; welcome by Mayor Svante Myrick and Dan Hill, Cayuga Nation followed by performances all day.
Performances by:
• Cattaraugus Singers and Dancers
• Dan Hill, Cayuga flute maker
• Irma-Estel Laquerre, Taina/Aztec/Tarasco – Stories
• Emilio Benites, Peruvian, Flute
• Atsiaktonkie, Mohawk Musician
More details coming…..
Children’s activities include Amazing Pete and his incredible balloon creations, water drums, building projects led by Home Depot staff, face painting and more.
We welcome Indigenous vendors (no fees charged) and if interested please contact Audrey J. Cooper, 607-272-2292 or ajc39@cornell.edu.
Little Apple Fall Follies
The two-hour performance features more than 20 stage acts including local singing groups, jazz, rock and bluegrass bands, dancing, juggling and magic. Tickets are $12 and are available now at the State Theatre box office (607-27-STATE) or Ithaca Wegmans. All proceeds benefit the Rotary and Savage Club community grant programs.
Presented by the community for the community, the evening’s line-up has something to please every age group. This year, LAFF will feature Running to Places youth theatre, Nate and Kate, the Armstrong School of Dance, magician James Warren and Ruddy Well Band. Also featured are local performers and musicians, including the incomparable Ed Clute on piano. Many of the artists are members of the Rotary and/or Savage Clubs.
Emcees for the show are Brett Bossard, executive director at Cinemapolis, and Joey Steinhagen, artistic director of Running to Places Theatre Company. LAFF is part of the 31st annual Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival, which runs October 4 – 6, 2013.
Ithaca Rotary grants promote the quality of life in Tompkins County and the greater Ithaca area. Recipients of 2012 grants include the FOODNET/Meals on Wheels, Better Housing for Tompkins County, Challenge Industries, Southern Tier AIDS Program, and Caroline Youth Services. The Savage Club assists community arts organizations, including the Community School of Music and Arts, Vitamin L chorus, and Running to Places youth theatre.
Contributions to these community grants programs are gratefully accepted at any time. Checks may be sent to: Rotary Club of Ithaca, P.O. Box 306, Ithaca 14851 OR the Savage Club, 116 Kay Street, Ithaca 14850.
The Community School of Music and Arts launches Arts For All Marathon
The Community School of Music and Arts’ (CSMA), proud sponsor of the Apple Harvest Festival, will launch its 6th Annual Arts for All Marathon during the Festival weekend Oct 4-6 2013. CSMA’s signature fundraising event, the Marathon benefits educational programs, with a focus on need based scholarships. Throughout October, local artists, performers, and writers will undertake creative projects and benefit events to raise funds on behalf of CSMA.
During Festival weekend, CSMA will kick off its Marathon activities on First Friday Gallery Night. CSMA invites Festival goers to the opening reception for Four Running Feet, a benefit gallery show at CSMA (330 E. MLK/State Street) featuring multiple “mini-shows” of local artists’ work and opportunities to win silent auction items that evening. The gallery opening coincides with First Friday Gallery Night of Ithaca, from 5-8 pm.
The Marathon online auction also begins on Friday, October 4. Visit http://www.artsforallmarathon.org to bid on gift certificates, artwork, music, goods, and services galore – all items have been donated by local businesses, artists, and CSMA friends to benefit the school. Works of art available through the auction will be on display at CSMA from Oct 4-21.
Saturday afternoon on Oct 5th from 1-3 pm kids and adults can have fun at the “Instrument Petting Zoo”. The Ithaca College Chapter of Music Teachers National Association invites kids of all ages to try musical instruments of all shapes, sizes and types with the guidance of Ithaca College music students in the CSMA 3rd Floor Performance Space. Free admission.
Saturday evening, October 5th at 8 pm, CSMA’s Arts for All Marathon and Fellow Traveler present Alash throat singers from Tuva in concert at CSMA 3rd Floor performance space! Tickets are $18 in advance or $20 at the door, available at CSMA and Angry Mom Records. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales will benefit CSMA’s Marathon. See http://www.alashensemble.com to learn more about the amazing, internationally renowned music of Alash.
Since its inception, the Marathon has raised over $75,000 for CSMA scholarships and educational programs, opening doors to artistic learning and discovery for many who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity. See http://www.artsforallmarathon.org for full information, to make a donation, and for list of participating artists and schedule of events.
Cider Week FLX:
October 4-13 is Finger Lakes Cider Week. Your favorite cideries will be at the Apple Harvest Festival offering tastes and sales by the bottle. Eve’s Cidery and Bellwether Cidery can introduce you to the hard cider revival and orchards and farmers will be available to talk about traditional cider. Cider Week kicks off at the Cellar d’Or on October 4th and continues at other locations throughout the week. Every event will showcase the beauty and diversity of New York State’s orchards. Join the cideries at the Apple Harvest Fest Cider Week After Hours at the Westy from 6-9pm on Saturday, October 4th.
For more Cider Week information, please go to: www.ciderweekflx.comWant to receive updates on Apple Harvest Festival? LIKE us on Facebook for an insider view.
The 31st Annual Great Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival
Friday, October 4th: 12-6pm
Saturday, October 5th: 10am-6pm
Sunday, October 6th: 10am-6pm
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