The Chamber’s third annual HarvestFest drew hundreds of visitors to the day long community celebration on September 11. Hundreds of volunteers contributed their time and effort to making the day a success.

The HarvestFest Marketplace hosted over 30 local vendors selling everything from jewelry to local cheeses to arts and antiques, while children and adults visited with alpacas and other farm animals.

The Farm to Fork dinner was entirely sourced from local producers. Over three hundred guests feasted on roast pig, grass-fed beef, potatoes and corn grown in Salem, and ice cream made locally while listening to the tunes of Al and Kathy Bain. Al and Kathy played foot stomping country and bluegrass music and led the crowd in an impromptu square dance.

A silent auction of items donated by local businesses and artists helped raise money for the Chamber’s Crisis Fund for families in the community experiencing extraordinary or catastrophic medical expenses due to injury or illness. The auction raised close to $2,000. For information about the Crisis Fund, contact the Chamber or a Chamber member.

The Chamber wishes to thank all those who participated in this community event. This volunteer effort would have been impossible without the contributions of so many local businesses, individuals, volunteer firefighters and musicians.

Special thanks go to Glens Falls National Bank for sponsoring HarvestFest and to Salem Art Works for hosting the event and providing volunteers.