Cedar Circle Farm hosts its annual Pumpkin Festival on Sunday, October 8 from 10am until 3pm. Now in its fifteenth year, the Pumpkin Festival offers on-farm enjoyment for the entire family, with horse-drawn wagon rides, pumpkin picking, live music, kids’ activities, storytelling, birds of prey, cider pressing, and local food concessions.
Kids and families will want to visit the “Circle of Cedars” Enchanted Forest—where entertainment includes award-winning storyteller Simon Brooks of New London, NH who weaves folk and faerie tales from 10-30-11:30, and Vermont storyteller-musicians, The Swing Peepers, who play from 12-1 and 1:30-2. In addition to horse-drawn wagon rides to the pumpkin patch and cider pressing, children will also love the live birds of prey brought by the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS), plus face painting, educational activities, and crafts. For those who feel like dancing or listening to an eclectic mix of American songs, stop by the main stage to hear live music by the popular Vermont jam band, Sensible Shoes, from 1-3.
“The Pumpkin Festival is not only a Cedar Circle Farm tradition but it has become an Upper Valley tradition! People from all walks of life come to celebrate the season with great food, engaging entertainment, and educational activities suited for kids and adults alike.” says CCF Education Manager Eric Tadlock.
Be sure to arrive hungry! The food concessions, open from 11-3, feature delicious, farm-fresh organic soups, salads, grilled local sausages and farm-made veggie burgers, and pumpkin desserts prepared by CCF Chef Theo and her Farm Kitchen crew. NOFA-VT’s mobile wood-fired oven returns to offer artisan pizza. And, new this year are Piecemeal Pies of White River Junction offering savory pies and soups, Griddle and Groovy of East Thetford serving gourmet grilled cheese and mac and cheese, and JUEL Juice + Smoothies with their food truck. The Farmstand and Hello Café coffee shop will be open until 5.
“Pumpkin Festival is a great community event. People love to come out and enjoy the fall splendor, eat good food, and learn about where their food comes from. It’s definitely time to celebrate the season’s bounty and spend time with family and friends.” states CCF’s Farm Manager Kate Duesterberg.
The Pumpkin Festival is a “Green Event” with a waste recovery station, which has yielded just two bags of trash for more than 1500 visitors in previous years.
A suggested donation of $10-15 per car includes parking in designated fields and free admission to all events. Carpooling is encouraged. No pets please. Rain or shine.
Located on Pavillion Road along the Connecticut River, the farm is just off of Rt. 5 in East Thetford, VT. For details and directions, visit www.CedarCircleFarm.org/events/festivals.
Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center is an organic farm with a social mission, engaging the community to develop and share practices that promote regenerative agriculture, good health, and a resource-rich environment. The farm offers a retail farmstand and greenhouses, a farm kitchen, and coffee shop. They feature a CSA program, pick your own berries and pumpkins, educational school programs, summer day camps and farm tours, cooking classes, and a community harvest festival.
