Harvest Fest Brings Fall Country Traditions to the City

Saturday is the day to celebrate all things autumn in the city, as the Downtown Business Association's 2011 Bethlehem Harvest Festival brings a bit of the country to the city for a full day of food and fun.

Events for the day, to run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., will include beer and wine sampling, an open-air produce market, fine arts and crafts vendors, historic walking tours and 19th century brewing demonstrations, a soup contest with sampling, a pie-eating contest, grape stomping, and an array of kids' activities.

For those with a passion for fine beer, a wristband can be purchased for $20 in advance, or for $25 at the festival, that will allow guests to sample more than a dozen beers. Unlimited sampling will run from 1 to 4 p.m., and guests get a free souvenir glass with their wristband.

Those who prefer wine can hit the “wine trail” and sample 15 different wines for a $10 wristband.

For $5, guests can sample the soups entered into the festivals soup contest—take the 'soup trail' and try them all. Wristbands for this event will be available the day of the festival, but real soup lovers should come early as the event sold out last year.

Highlights of the children's activities at the smithy's shop will include pumpkin painting and a petting zoo.

Live music will punctuate the day, with music planned for two stages, one on Main Street, and another in the Sun Inn Courtyard. Look for the Donovan Roberts Band, Gesture Without Motion, the Trouble City All Stars, Don Cunningham & his Cabinet, and Coming Soon.

Advance tickets for the beer sampling and wine trail may be purchased at:

• The Chamber

For more information about the festival, or to download a map of the day's events, visit www.bethlehemharvestfestival.com