Milton Harvest Festival, Inc. ... Harvesting fun, food and fellowship


THE FESTIVAL WILL BE MARCHING IN — The Milton Area High School marching band adds some bass to last year’s Harvest Festival pet parade. This year’s festival, which kicks off tonight with the annual Tomato Bowl, will include the Tournament of Bands, a marching band contest that was furloughed for the last 16 years. It’s planned for next Saturday at Milton High’s Alumni Field. Standard Journal file photo

Here comes Harvest Festival!
Published in the Standard-Journal on Friday, September 7, 2007
Reprinted with Permission

MILTON — All sorts of places have busy seasons — beaches during the summer, shopping centers during the winter holidays. Milton has its own bustling time of year, and it’s right around the corner.

It isn’t the unofficial start of the fall season until the Milton Harvest Festival kicks off — quite literally — tonight.

The two-weekend festival, which has grown since its inception decades ago, has long been a staple in the Milton community.

“This is the 31st year and the theme is “Harvesting Fun, Food and Fellowship.”

Dale Kriner, in his 16th year as chair of Harvest Festival, said the events draw people in from all over. For many, it’s one big reunion, he said.

“While looking around at crafts or getting food (during the two Saturdays of the festival), people run into each other,” Kriner said. “They treat it like a homecoming.

“People look forward to this, and still come no matter the weather.”

Forecasters are calling for isolated thunderstorms this weekend.

It’s now easier than ever to catch up on everything Milton Harvest Festival. The festival organization launched a new Web site earlier this year — www.miltonharvestfestival.org.

There, visitors may look through the lists of events, learn how to participate and even explore the history of Milton’s big-time event.

Everything starts tonight with the Tomato Bowl at Milton’s Alumni Field, pitting the Milton Black Panthers against the Warrior Run Defenders. The Black Panthers brought the trophy back to Milton last year with a win over Lewisburg. The game includes pre-game ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. and a Harvest Princess coin toss prior to the start at 7.

From 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday, folks can talk about Friday night’s game over breakfast at St. John’s United Church of Christ, Arch Street.

Friends can also get reacquainted by running into each other while browsing the art, crafts, antiques and food stands from 9 to 5 p.m. along Broadway and Bound Avenue.

Those looking to get things rolling, literally, can sign up for the 28-mile bike race slated for 9:30 a.m. at the municipal building along Filbert Street. Registration will begin at 7:30. There is also a pet parade at 10 a.m. with registration an hour before at the M&T Bank along Elm Street.

For those who would prefer to sit back and relax, there will be three shows by the Kingdom Kids Puppet Ministry — 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

At 11 a.m. at the gazebo in Lincoln Park, the Milton High School band will perform.

The evening’s big event will be the Harvest Festival Princess Pageant at 7:30 in the high school auditorium. There is a admission. For more information, see the insert in today’s newspaper.

Sunday will be a time to relax on the Susquehanna River.

The Milton Harvest Festival River Trip will be held from about 12:45 to 4:45 p.m. Participants should gather in the Milton Moose parking lot along Front Street. Registration is required by Saturday and can be made by calling 524-7692 or e-mailing besty@PaddleHappy.com. Boats may be rented or bring your own.

The voyage first entails a visit to the recently opened Milton Rock Gym for a private tour. Afterward, everyone will be taken to the Watsontown bridge for the launch into the river. The trip back to Milton will include historical and environmental presentations. According to Canoe Susquehanna, which will guide and outfit the tour, life jackets can fit individuals as light as 30 pounds.

On both Saturdays of the festival, don’t forget to vote in the beautiful baby photo contest. Entries are displayed at Prime Time Video and Time Out Video along South Front Street. The winners in each age group will be announced during the block dance.

The events and elements that make up the festival are sponsored and supported by a number of local organizations and businesses.

Jeff Shaffer: 570-742-9671
jeff@standard-journal.com

Copyright © Milton Harvest Festival, Inc., PO Box 105, Milton, Pennsylvania 17847.
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