The Harvard Lions Club Fall Festival is just around the corner, and the event, scheduled for three days this year—Sept. 18 to 20—is designed to be better than ever, according to Lions spokesperson Bob Kinnee. Kinnee said that the club is hoping for attendance in the neighborhood of 7,000, up 2,000 from last year.
The Fall Festival is the major fundraiser for the Harvard Lions, who use the proceeds to support initiatives related to sight, hearing, and diabetes, and to provide scholarships for high school seniors, assistance to the elderly, funding for Bromfield student projects and activities, and funding for the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry.
The event, which will take place at the Hazels’ Sunnywood Acres farm on Ayer Road, will feature something for everyone—crafts, music, food, and more. A craft fair is the main draw, and it will highlight handmade items from artisans around the region.
Festival organizers have tried to add something new and different every year. Two years ago they introduced a barbecue cookoff contest run by the New England Barbecue Society (NEBS), hoping to draw teams of cooking enthusiasts from all over the region. There were 12 participants that year. Last year, with Governor Deval Patrick issuing a proclamation in support of the cookoff, participation grew to 30 teams. According to Kinnee, entries will top 40 teams this year.
For the first time festivalgoers will be invited to help select a “people’s choice” favorite barbecue team. For $5 attendees will be able to sample up to five barbecue offerings from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, and they can cast votes for their favorites. Official judging in the NEBS contest starts Sunday at noon.
Although “people’s choice” cookoff winners will earn only bragging rights, NEBS winners will share a pot of $3,000, with one overall winner and winners in several categories. With cash at stake, the cookoff has gotten the attention of serious barbecue competitors far and wide. This year, Scottie Johnson and his two daughters will travel from Chicago to compete. Since his wife’s death from cancer in 2003, Johnson has been traveling the barbecue circuit in pursuit of winnings that he donates to the foundation he established in his wife’s honor, the Corliss Johnson Memorial Foundation. To date, his barbecue prowess has garnered $5,000 for the cause. Johnson said that the Harvard cookoff was recommended to him by other teams at a recent barbecue event in Maine.
In addition to the “people’s choice” barbecue cookoff, the Lions have cooked up other features to help draw in the crowds this year: a “battle of the bands” will take place Friday night, with 10 local bands competing; business exhibitors will be there with what Kinnee describes as “great offers” for the crowd; and adult and teen “challenge games,” such as log jousting and axe and knife throwing, will offer competitors a chance to win food and drink coupons. In addition, this year’s attendees will find expanded food offerings which, in addition to the Lions’ hand-cut regular and sweet potato french fries and fried dough, will include Thai food, barbecue, ice cream, popcorn, and cotton candy. An expanded “kids carnival” will keep youngsters amused while parents take in the challenge games or the barbecue cookoff, or just relax to the music of the U2 tribute band Joshua Tree and the country rock group Crisis, both of which will be providing entertainment throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information about the festival visit www.HarvardFallFestival.com.