Celebrate the harvest season on September 21

Come to the Harvest Festival on Saturday at Ninigret Park

The Charlestown Community Garden, in conjunction with the Charlestown Parks and Recreation Department, Clivus New England and The Nordic Lodge Restaurant will be holding their annual Harvest Festival at Ninigret Park on Route 1A on Saturday, Sept. 21st, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. with a $5 admission donation. The Harvest Festival is a benefit for the Charlestown Community Garden, an all volunteer organization that grows and provides fresh organic produce to the local food banks and those in need in the community.

This family-friendly event features free hayrides, pumpkin painting, beading, kids’ workshop, and lots of games including horseshoes and a fishing derby. In between, families can enjoy food, our fantastic vendors, farmer’s market, the live music from the Dead Blues Society and the Al Larkin Collective, Native American storytelling, and an antique car show. There will also be a raffle and silent auction.

COMMUNITY VALUES

To raise awareness of the interconnectedness of the community, the Harvest Festival at Ninigret will feature its own version of “stone soup.”  A cup of soup will be served with bread to attendees as part of their $5 admission donation (children under 12 free) while supplies last. There will be many other types of food for sale.

To protect the local environment, the festival is striving to maintain as small an ecological footprint as possible by using compostable food utensils. URI Master Gardeners will be testing soil pH for free. Participants can bring ¼ cup of dry soil from each area to be tested to prepare your gardens for next year's plants. Indie Cycle will be doing a free electronic waste drop off except for mini-fridges, air conditioners, water coolers and dehumidifiers. Additionally, outdated medications can be dropped off in the drop box in the lobby of the Charlestown Police Station, adjacent to Ninigret.

As culmination of the 275th Charlestown birthday celebration, there will be a ceremonial cake and awards will be given for a scavenger hunt and poetry contest.

CHARLESTOWN COMMUNITY GARDEN

The Charlestown Community Garden’s mission is to provide fresh, healthy, organic vegetables to the food insecure in our local community through the volunteer work of local people. The Charlestown Community Garden in Ninigret Park is in its third year of harvesting thousands of pounds of produce while utilizing sustainable and environmentally responsible methods. All produce is donated to Jonnycake, WARM, Meal on Wheels, Pawcatuck, the Senior Center and directly to local needy families.