Fireworks explode over the Hazels' field at last year's Fall Festival. (File photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)

Local cows Missy and Krasula will be determining the winners of Cow Plop Bingo at the Harvard Fall Festival, Sept. 16-18. (Courtesy photo)

What began as a craft fair fundraiser by the Harvard Lions Club is now, over two decades later, a multi-day extravaganza of activities, games, food, and music.

"Each time we keep adding and adding and adding," said Lions Club President Bob Kinnee. "So it just keeps getting bigger and better, literally."

The Lions are expecting over 6,000 people to attend, from Harvard and the surrounding area and as far away as Boston, Kinnee said.

The festival begins this year at 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 16, with a Battle of the Bands, in which teen and young adult bands compete for the title, and continues with daytime and evening events through Sunday afternoon.

Among other things, there will be live music throughout the event, a state barbecue championship, a classic car show, medieval challenges including a "Castle Siege" catapult with enhanced sound effects, inflatables and pony rides for children, a Beatles tribute band, fireworks, and, of course, the traditional craft fair.

But, beyond all that, Kinnee said, "There's something about, on a sunny, clear, early autumn day being in that picturesque setting, with the music going and all your friends and neighbors—it's not an everyday kind of experience in this day and age. It's not common at all."

New this year is "Cow Plop Bingo." In this event, two cows are let loose to wander a grid of squares claimed for $5 each by participants. As Kinnee said, the cows, whose services have been donated for the weekend by the local residents who own them, are expected to "do their thing" sometime between 1 and 3 p.m., and the two claimants to the grid squares where the cows do their thing get to split half the Cow Plop ticket sales for that day.

Those who can't make it to the festival can visit www.harvardfallfestival.com and stake their claim to the Cow Plop online, using PayPal. For this competition, the cows do most of the hard work.

"You don't have to be there to win," Kinnee said.

Another new event this year is a classic car show on Sunday, which is included in the price of general admission.

Also new is a dramatically expanded Lions Food Tent menu, which had in previous years consisted mostly of burgers, hot dogs, and French fries.

"This year we're offering a whole set of barbecue items and a complete barbecue dinner," Kinnee said.

The Lions will be cooking up brisket, pulled pork, and ribs, along with all the sides, plus, for dessert, Carlson Orchards' apple crisp with whipped cream.

And also for barbecue lovers, once again the Harvard Fall Festival will play host to the state championships of the Kansas City Barbeque Society. Last year, the event drew 44 teams, and this year, over 50 are expected, Kinnee said. Teams from around New England will be setting up camp Friday for the slow cooking process that will last through the weekend.

"They almost literally set up a little village on the property," Kinnee said.

While the competitors aren't allowed to sell their food, festivalgoers will be able to observe them in operation, talk with the teams, and taste test and vote in a People's Choice contest that will be held Saturday and Sunday.

Another returning highlight is the band Beatlejuice, a popular band that specializes in reproducing the Beatles' hits. Beatlejuice last played the Fall Festival four years ago.

"It's kind of a multi-generational group," Kinnee said; the Beatles' music appeals to everyone, he said.

Beatlejuice will go on Saturday night after the fireworks, which are scheduled earlier this year at 8 p.m. By moving the fireworks earlier than last year's 9:30 p.m., Kinnee said, more families will be able to enjoy them.

The fireworks, he said, "are always great. We spend a lot on that." Many people tell him the Fall Festival fireworks are better than the town's Fourth of July fireworks, Kinnee said.

A full description of events can be found online at www.harvardfallfestival.com.

This is the Harvard Lions Club's biggest fundraising event of the year. Kinnee said last year the club was able to donate about $50,000 to charity, thanks to money raised at the festival and other Lions' events. A lot of the money goes to support research and services for the blind and visually impaired, a mission of Lions clubs worldwide. Proceeds also go to community groups, like the Harvard firefighters and ambulance squad and Loaves and Fishes.

"We see that [giving back to the town] as a responsibility," Kinnee said," because the town is providing us a lot of the funds to begin with."

The Harvard Fall Festival will be at 150 Ayer Road in Harvard. Tickets for the Friday night Battle of the Bands cost $7 per person. Daytime tickets for Saturday and Sunday (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) cost $5 per person (all ages). Tickets for the Saturday evening concert and fireworks (gates open at 5 p.m.) cost $15 for adults and $10 for students. Those who purchase Saturday evening tickets in advance will receive free admission during the day and will be allowed to stay on the festival grounds between 4 and 5 p.m.