31st Annual Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival

The 31st Annual Great Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival will take place on October 4-6, 2013, (12pm-6:00pm, Fri and 10 to 6pm Sat and Sun)

The festival is a nostalgic journey to harvest season fun. The delicacies of the region are at every turn with over 100 vendors including unique apple varietals, hot apple cider donuts, kettle corn, fry bread, 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 fall time produce such as 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 handmade artists display their arts and crafts in the Craft Show. It is a showcase where you can begin to stock up on handmade items including jewelry, ceramics, home decor, body care, specialty gifts, clothing and so much more. As street fairs go, this one is outstanding, full of family entertainment, games, rides, prizes and live performances on two stages.

2012 INFORMATION

Background:The event started as a small harvest festival in 1982 to showcase the diverse agricultural products from the area. 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, plus games and other activities for childrenH grew the event into what it is today. The event attracts an audience of over 30,000 patrons over the three days.

New Attractions:Life's So Sweet Green Street Family Fun Zone. Here you will find interactive children's games and prizes, plus carnival rides and performance. Get a belly full of laughs as you watch "Running to Places" witty performances and grand acting. There are also visits from our favorite candy pastime with Mr. Jelly Belly. A large runaway apple scavenger hunt starts in this location Saturday. Find all the clues and redeem your playing card for prizes. Music and fun for the whole family can be found in this new addition to the festival.

Past Favorites:Haunted History Tours will once again take place during the festival. One of our most popular annual events, the Haunted History Tour is a one-hour guided walk of downtown Ithaca and its surrounding neighborhoods, highlighting sites of interest and the ‘ghosts' who inhabited them. Join us as the people and places of Tompkins County's rich history are brought to life by a cast of actors, storytellers and other performers who appear along the way to tell the stories of murder, haunting, and some of the more unusual occurrences that have occurred in local history. Tickets may be purchased at the festival or in advance by calling 607-277-8679.

The State Theatre:Hosting three events during the Festival.
Friday - The Third Annual Little Apple Fall Follies
"Fall in Love Again" variety show will take place with help from the Ithaca Rotary and Savage Clubs. The show will feature over 20 acts includes brass bands, jazz bands and rock bands. All proceeds from this event go back to the community through Rotary and Savage Club grant programs.

Saturday - The Punch Brothers
A progressive bluegrass band with Chris Thile (mandolin), Gabe Witcher (fiddle/violin), Noam Pikelny (banjo), Chris Eldridge (guitar), and Paul Kowert (bass). Their style has been described as "bluegrass instrumentation and spontaneity in the strictures of modern classical.

Sunday - The Little Farm Show
"The Greatest Show on Dirt!" at 12noon. The show is an original musical theatre performance for all-ages created and performed by Tannis Kowalchuk and Brett Keyser. The play navigates through the history of agriculture from 10,000 BCE to today, exploring sustainability, local food systems, and organic farming. Steeped in history, philosophy, and a wheel barrow-full of information, The Little Farm Show will not only entertain, but will ask people to consider their food choices and the effect those decisions have on their bodies, the environment, and society. Tickets to State Theatre shows are available at the State Theatre box office or at the Ticket Center in Center Ithaca.

Finger Lakes Cider Week:
September 28 to October 7th in 2012 and 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. Orchards and farmers will be available to talk about traditional cider. Events in downtown locations including Just A Taste, Mercato, Bandwagon Brewpub, and well as many others throughout the area 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 5 to 7pm on Saturday.

The First Peoples' Festival:
In Dewitt Park on Saturday the 29th from 10am to 5:30pm. The festival is a celebration of Indigenous peoples of New York State with traditional music, crafts, displays and foods. We provide 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. Performers include the Allegheny River Indian Dancers, Bluesman Butch Mudbone, traditional flute music by Dan Hill, Crow Weaver Band, plus traditional stories by Barbara Bethman-Mahooty at Dewitt Park and Amanda Crouse on the Commons. Activities include making traditional Lacrosse Sticks by Alf Jacques, water drums by Allyn Underwood, balloon fun by Amazing Pete, face painting, and more.

Farm Vendors
AJ Teeter Farm
Allens Hill Farm
Baker's Acers
Cornell Orchards/SoHo
Walter Osip
Eve's Cidery
Ward's Maple Products
Little Tree Orchards
Laughing Goat Fiber Farm
Little Grey Bakery
Montezuma Winery
Six Mile Creek Winery
Thousand Islands Winery
Ashley Lynn Winery
Bellwether Hard Cider
Bacchus Brewing Company
Mrs. Tuckers Pies

Performer Schedule

Bernie Milton - Friday
12:00-1:45 Jorge T. Cuevas and the Caribe Jazz Allstars
2:15-2:45 The Evan D. Williams Band
3:00-3:30 New Roots Charter School Jazz Ensemble
3:30-4:00 Bumph!
4:30-6:30 Rockwood Ferry

Bernie Milton - Saturday
10:30-11:30 Vitamin L
12:00-1:00 Butch Mudbone
1:30-3:15 Purple Valley
4:00-6:00 The Jeff Love Band
6:00-6:30 Wassa PanAfrika Dance Ensemble

Amphitheater - Saturday
11:00-11:30 ICircus
11:30-12:45 June & Chandani Bellydance Troupe
1:00-1:30 The Lost Dogs
1:30-2:00 Amanda Crouse: Story Telling
2:00-2:45 Nate & Kate's Kids Show
3:00-3:30 F & C Dance and Fitness
3:30-4:00 The Grady Girls

Bernie Milton - Sunday
10:00-10:30 Cornell University Orchestra
10:45-12:45 Radio London
12:45-1:15 Apple Pie Eating Contest
1:30-3:30 5 Mile Drive
4:00-4:30 Nate The Great
4:30-6:00 The DixieKats

Amphitheater - Sunday
11:00-12:45 The Flying Broadwell Brothers
1:00-2:00 Jomo & Johnnycakes
2:00-4:00 Dave Davies & Friends

Live Street Performances:(Intersection of State & Cayuga St)
Saturday 29th
11-11:30 - Ithacappella
3:00-3:30-Premium Blend
Sunday 30th
11:00am-12pm - The String Snappers (acoustic children's string performances)

Green Street Life's So Sweet Family Fun Zone (Sat & Sun12-6pm)

Saturday 29th Schedule
12pm-12:30pm - Music by DJ Aran
12:30-1pm - Running to Places Improv
1pm-1:30pm - Music by DJ Aran
1:30pm-2pm - Running to Places Improv
2pm-2:30pm - Music by DJ Aran
2:30pm-3pm - Local Band: Comfort Ave
3pm-6pm - Karaoke with DJ Aran

Sunday 30th Schedule
12pm-3pm - Music by DJ Aran
3pm-5pm - StoryDance
5pm-6pm - Karaoke with DJ Aran

Golden Apple Scavenger Hunt!
Time to dust off your bowler hat and break out your magnifying glass! It's time for the Golden Apple Scavenger Hunt at the 30th Annual Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival. Here's how to play: Pick up an answer card at the new Life's So Sweet Chocolate (Open Sat &Sun 12-6), located at the Family Fun Zone on Green Street. From there, become your own detective, exploring the Downtown Ithaca Commons, keeping an eye for hidden Golden Apples. Make sure to check Facebook throughout the weekend for clues as to where the apples are hiding! Answer the harvest-themed trivia questions on each of the Golden Apples on your answer card. Once you've found them all, hand in your card to the WICB table at the intersection of Cayuga and State Street to be entered to win some fabulous prizes including a $50 gift certificate to downtown! Winners will be announced on live on WICB!

More Events:

State Theatre
Friday - Little Apple Fall Follies - 7:30pm
Saturday - The Punch Brothers - 8:00pm
Sunday - The Little Farm Show - 12noon

Lot 10 Lounge
Friday the 28th
6-7:30pm Comedy FLOPS Happy Hour
10pm-1am - Latin Night with Sabrosura on 9/28 from 10-1.
Saturday the 29th
10pm - 1am - Free Boody Institute

Moosewood Restuarant
Saturday 29th
Bacchus Beer Tasting (Inside)  - 1-6:00pm

St. Paul's United Methodist Church
Friday 28th
6-8pm Spirited Conversation


Cider Week Apple Harvest Fest After Hours -The Westy - Saturday 5-7pm
First Peoples' Festival - Dewitt Park - Saturday 10:00 - 5:30

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The 30th Annual Great Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival
Friday, September 28 - 12noon to 6:30pm
Saturday, September 29 - 10am to 6:30pm
Sunday, September 30 - 10am to 6:30pm

For Alternate Transportation Options Contact
http://ccetompkins.org/money/get-your-green-back-tompkins