Celebrating Local Farms and Artisans of Hood River

Celebrating Oregon’s magnificent bounty each autumn is a tradition that dates back to the mid-1800s. Celebrating its 39th anniversary this year, the Hood River Valley Harvest Fest is one of the longest-running festivals in the Columbia Gorge and promises a spectacular lineup of farms and orchards, arts and crafts vendors, delicious food, local beer and wine, live music and more!

Presented by Toyota, the festival will take place Friday, Oct. 11–Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Hood River Event Site on the Columbia River. Comparable to a giant farmer’s market, the event features an abundant selection of farm vendors selling everything from pears and pumpkins to flower bouquets and potted plants. It’s a great place to pick up a crate of fresh, crispy apples for eating fresh or baking pies.

The roster, subject to change, includes local vendors like Dancing Light Ranch, a lavender farm, and Secret Valley Produce, which offers a variety of fresh veggies. To add to the party, between 12 and 14 food vendors will be onsite, slinging tacos, corn dogs, barbecue, crepes, ice cream and more! Check out the bar to pair your snacks with seasonal cocktails, a cold beer or a glass of wine.

The arts and crafts vendors are some of the best in the region, having been vetted through a juried acceptance process. With 80 participating businesses, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re interested in paintings and pottery or candles and jewelry. It’s an impressive showcase of the talented artists and makers in the Columbia Gorge and beyond!

True West produces the Harvest Fest, and a fantastic live music schedule is planned, so wear comfortable shoes and come prepared to groove! Shireen Amini kicks off the party on Friday with a soulful blend of rock, Latin, hip-hop and roots, followed by the June Bug Boys, an old-time string band local to Hood River.

The tunes continue on Saturday, starting with Tallulah’s Daddy, a fun, interactive musical performance perfect for kids and families. Mikey the Rad Scientist will take the stage next with a unique science and nature-themed musical performance. Rounding out the afternoon, JoAnna Lee will perform her acoustic-based blend of pop, rock and soul, and Tony Smiley will conclude the day with his captivating talent for live looping, the art of recording multiple layers of sound simultaneously to create complex and engaging melodies.

Mikey the Rad Scientist will make a second appearance on Sunday, followed by Americana soul artist Megan Alter. Indie rock band Blue Willow will perform the grand finale.

Proud to be a treasured event for the whole family, the festival will offer plenty of fun activities for kids. The dedicated Kids Zone offers games and bouncy houses, and littles can get their faces painted or even paint a pumpkin! The kid-specific acts in the performance lineup are also new this year.

Celebrating and sharing the region’s fall harvest brings people together and helps to support local growers and businesses. “The festival draws, on average, 10,000 people over the weekend at a normally slow time for the community,” says Lee Perry of True West. “Hotels are typically sold out, and not only is Hood River booming, but so are the surrounding communities.”

For more information, including pricing and ticket purchases, visit the website at hoodriverharvestfestival.com.