Seasonal East End Festivals To Culminate With Sylvester Manor’s Harvest Festival

Sylvester Manor Educational Farm will host its annual Harvest Festival at Windmill Field in Shelter Island on Saturday, October 26.

“The Harvest Festival is a culmination of our mission through food, music, culture, arts, education and agricultural heritage,” Sylvester Manor Executive Director Stephen Searl noted. “Most importantly, we want this to be a fun day for the community to come on down and spend time with us and with each other.”

From 12 to 3 p.m., the celebration of farm, food and musical traditions will feature hayrides out to the back pastures, tasty seasonal favorites, such as chili, cornbread, apples, cider doughnuts and beer, amazing live performances headlined by local musicians, a farm-themed photo booth – complete with fun, seasonal props, garlic planting (and jovial singing) in Windmill Field, a meet and feed with some very special guests – the farm’s own chickens, Windmill-inspired cornhole, and more.

The live music will commence with Sylvester Manor’s co-founder Bennett Konesni from 12 to 1 p.m., followed by an open jam from 1 to 3 p.m. Those that plan on treating the crowd to their talents may bring their instrument of choice to accompany them.

There will be several children’s crafts and games, including Story Thyme led by the Shelter Island Public Library, face painting, flower crowns, sack races, and the beloved farm activity, “Hay, Where is the Sweet Potato?”

Additionally, those with the magic touch in the kitchen should break out the necessary ingredients to make their signature pie and enter it in the Harvest Festival’s pie-baking contest. Open to amateur bakers, the contest will feature six categories: Best Traditional (pumpkin, apple, etc.), Most Unique, Best Crust, Best Fruit Pie, Prettiest Pie and Best Overall. Of course, the entirety of the pie must be homemade, down to the crust. Entries must by delivered to The Farmstand (21 Manwaring Road, Shelter Island) on Saturday, October 26, between 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Admission to the Harvest Festival is $10 in advance and $12 at the gate for adults, $5 in advance and $8 at the gate for children (ages 5 to 12), and free for kids ages 4 and under.

Windmill Field at Sylvester Manor is located at 21 Manwaring Road in Shelter Island. For more information, call 631-749-0626 or visit www.sylvestermanor.org.