History: The first Harvestfest took place in 1997 and has been a fall fixture ever since. The Bethel Harvest Fest began as the Harvestfest and Chowdah Cookoff between as many as a dozen local restaurants However, the restaurants no longer have enough staff to man the restaurant and the Fest so, the Fest lost out.
Month Held: The Bethel Harvestfest takes place yearly on the third Saturday in September from 10 am to 3 pm.
Attractions: The Apple Pie Contest offers three opportunities to win, professional, amateur, and non-traditional. The top pie in each category wins a gift certificate. Pies will be sold by the slice and if you won't mind bringing an extra pie, that would make everyone very happy.
Hancock Lumber, one of the sponsors of the Bethel Harvestfest, offers a 90-minute tour of their Sawmill on the Friday before the Fest at 10 am. The tour is free, but you do need to pre-register. They also have a pumpkin painting booth at the Fest as one of the many activities for the kids.
Live entertainment takes place in the gazebo and it is a visitor favorite. It showcases popular local talent. Enjoy noshing on loaded baked potatoes, hotdogs, hamburgers, apple crisp, and more as you wander around the booths.
The Museums of the Bethel Historical Society will be open and there will be demonstrations. In the past demonstrations have included cider pressing and rug hooking. Guided tours of the Dr. Moses Mason House are offered.
A Farmer's Market takes place at the same time on the Common and all the offerings must be from farms within 75 miles of Bethel and any items for sale must have been created from local products.
Admission: Admission to the Bethel Harvestfest is free.
