POUND RIDGE, N.Y. The Pound Ridge Partnerships plans to hold a harvest festival in the Scotts Corner business district on Saturday, Oct. 15 has roots that date back to the late 19th century.
In the late 1800s, Pound Ridge residents would gather together each fall along Trinity Lake for a day of picnicking and fun.
The autumn tradition of gathering townsfolk together for good food and fun is one that stems back to as early as 1886 when the Pound Ridge Farmers Picnic was first held on the eastern shore of Trinity Lake, said OBrien, Pound Ridge historian and member of the Pound Ridge Harvest Festival Committee.
OBrien said the Farmers Picnic was a popular annual event for 20 years and reportedly attracted up to 2,500 celebrants during its heyday. Trinity Lake was immortalized in the 1890s in at least two published poems Fidelity and Oceanus Mirror by poet Jared Barhite. Fidelity was read by the author at the Farmers Picnic on Sept. 1, 1891. The Pound Ridge Historical Society revived the tradition for one year when it sponsored a Farmers Picnic at the Town Park in 1979.
The Pound Ridge Partnership is a relatively new organization and was formed to promote the town and its resources as well as help with aesthetic improvements. In June, it held its first event, Pound Ridge Pride Day, and its success provided the inspiration for this months harvest festival.
The idea for Pound Ridge Harvest Festival grew out of the success of Pound Ridge Pride, said Mike Daglio, Pound Ridge resident and co-chair of the Pound Ridge Harvest Festivals Planning Committee. It was such an incredible day to see everyone gather in the town center to celebrate the great community in which we live. I thought that we need to have these kinds of events more often so I came up with the idea to organize a fall festival.
Organizers say they are aiming to create a true festival feeling complete with a beer tent, wine tasting and autumn-themed foods. Local merchants, including Albanos, Dinardos, Panellas, Plum Plums, Northstar, and Scotts Corner Market, are working together to prepare an autumn feast, which will include wiener schnitzel, kielbasa, German potato salad, fire-grilled corn, candy apples, and apple cider. The Pound Ridge Police Benevolent Association will help out at the grills. Pound Ridge Wine and Spirits will host wine tasting, and a beer tent for the over-21 crowd will be sponsored by Magic Hat.
Other businesses or organizations that would like to be involved should contact Susan Grissom, committee member, by e-mailing susan.grissom@gmail.com.
According to Spincycle owner and Harvest Festival Committee member, Lara Keidel, there will be games, activities, and contests for the kids.
We plan to have the Pound Ridge Girl Scouts, the Pound Ridge Boy Scouts, and the Pound Ridge Partnership for Kids all involved, she said.
The Harvest Festival will also feature live music sponsored by Bedfords School of Rock and The BB King Blues Club and Grill, owned by Pound Ridges Steve Bensusan. Bands will be announced soon. Come back to The Daily Pound Ridge (www.thedailypoundridge.com) later this week more information about the live music and other details about the festival.
Ive been so impressed by the energy and commitment of this committee under the leadership of Mike Daglio and Kevin Long, said Ali Boak, co-founder and board member of the Pound Ridge Partnership. Its going to be a very special day in Pound Ridge. Be sure to mark your calendars and bring the whole family down to Westchester Avenue.
For those who would like to serve as a volunteer on the day of Harvest Festival, contact Pauline Daglio at daglio@optonline.net.
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