Fall fun will be the order of the day when Kenyon College’s Brown Family Environmental Center (BFEC) hosts its annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 14, from noon to 4 p.m.
The free event — featuring a cider press, hayrides and much more — will take place on the 610-acre nature preserve at 9871 Laymon Road, and is open to the general public.
The festival will have live music, featuring Howard and Judy Sacks playing traditional American folk music; Ohio Health, a Kenyon student band; BABA NGIDA West African Traditional Band; and the Kenyon Bluegrass Ensemble.
There will be alpacas and archery, along with a variety of children’s games and activities. The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardeners will be back with their hit pumpkin-decorating activity, using materials from the BFEC’s restored prairie. Guelaguetza and Zaki Grill food trucks will be at the festival all day for lunch.
A variety of booths will be present from campus partners — The Gund, the Kenyon Farm, and the Office for Community Partnerships — and local nonprofits such as the Knox County Local Food Council.
There will be products for sale from local farm-oriented booths like Broken Oak and Community Roots and other nearby businesses, including Schoolhouse WoodCrafts and Thistle and Twill.
BFEC Post-Baccalaureate Fellow Claire Haynes, Kenyon Class of 2023, said she is thrilled to start the fall off on a festive note.
“I'm excited to see our Kenyon College and Knox County community members come out to enjoy the day,” she said. “I want people to know that they can come to the BFEC and enjoy our trails, wildlife garden, forest and prairies any time of the year.”
Click to download an image from last year's Harvest Festival and images of Kenyon College.