Berkeley Harvest Festival to highlight healthy, homegrown fare

BERKELEY — The Harvest Festival on Oct. 14 is a chance to celebrate Berkeley’s culture of sustainable food and encourage more urban farming, homemade food, and healthier eating, according to a press release from the city.

The festival, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Cedar Rose Park, will feature foods grown, harvested, and prepared by members of the Berkeley community.

A Food and Garden Expo will include:

A crop swap, where gardeners can exchange their surpluses with other gardeners. All types of fruits and vegetables are welcome.
A seed swap, where garden seeds and gardening tips can be exchanged. For those who have no seeds to swap, organic vegetable and flowers seeds will be available while supplies last.
Food contests: categories include baked goods, preserves, pickled vegetables, and the newest category: “Sugar Free.” Although the main ingredient in all food entries must feasibly be grown in Berkeley, the actual ingredient does not need to have been grown there, the press release states. All participants will be recognized, and ribbons will be awarded in each category. Food contest entry forms and more information about the event can be found here.

There will be guided tours of nearby community gardens, as well as “from garden to table” cooking demonstrations, according to the press release. A Kids Zone will feature a climbing wall, an obstacle running course, bowling with pumpkins, and scarecrow making. There also will be face painting, pumpkin decorating, a petting zoo, carnival games with prizes, and a Junior Forester Challenge. Parks and Recreation booths will have information about programs and classes.

There will be live music by Tortilla Soup, Motor Dude Zydeco and Spazmatics in what will be the conclusion of the city’s “Music in the Park” series.

Participating organizations include the Ecology Center, Transition Berkeley, Berkeley Community Gardening Collaborative, and the Berkeley Unified School District Gardening and Cooking Program.

Cedar Rose Park is within comfortable walking distance from the North Berkeley BART station and also is accessible via the AC Transit Nos. 25 and 52 buses. Free valet bike parking will be offered on site.

The Harvest Festival is run by the city Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department. Information on camps, classes and other activities of the department’s Recreation Division are available here.

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