Harvest Festival in Habersham draws thousands for fall fun (w/video)

By Abigail Kraft | Saturday’s Habersham Harvest Festival brought a super fun family-friendly event with dozens of vendors, food trucks, games, and rides for all to enjoy. Habersham is a beautiful neighborhood tucked back behind Robert Smalls Middle School off of Joe Frazier Road… known to put on event after phenomenal event. Habersham also hosts a First Friday event each month and continues to be the home of Beaufort’s Twilight Run every March. The neighborhood is home to restaurants, bars, bookstores, and every October, the amazing Harvest Festival.

This year’s festival was a huge success, says Michelle Mayer, director of community relations in Habersham. “It was a lot of work but seeing all the kids and everyone turn out makes it all worth it.”

The vintage ferris wheel, hay rides, petting zoo, bouncy castle, pickle-eating contest, and fun games were enjoyed by thousands.

Vendors included Sara Jane Kids, SeedSandSalt, Joe Loves Lobster Rolls, Lowcountry Produce, Boundary Street Cafe and Making Memories Stick.

Rachel Anderson of SeedSandSalt was one of the many vendors making a debut at the Harvest Festival. “I was so nervous to come out, but now that I’m here, I feel so good about what we do. I make women’s and children’s apparel and accessories and home decor. I try to make as many pieces as I can from nature- I just love the Lowcountry and I loved growing up here.” (Be on the lookout for the SeedSandSalt website next month.)

Joe Loves Lobster Rolls was also wildly popular. Their lobster was flown in yesterday from Maine and was a crowd favorite, to say the least. Patrons were talking about the meaty and delicious lobster all day. “It was absolutely worth waiting in line,” says Ellen Porter, proud Habersham resident.

Mayer also made a point to recognize all of the people who helped make this day possible.

“This absolutely could not happen without sponsorships, volunteers, and our dedicated staff. So many volunteer hours went in to making this event happen. There is a major sense of community and we are so thankful for it,” she said.

Vendors on hand included: Sara Jane Kids, Sunset Slush, Flying Frogs, Bluffton Center for Dentistry, Jess Jewels, Baby Cakes, Vintage Rain, Fusion Bath and Body Products, SeedSandSalt, Lowcountry Weekly, Plat du Jour, Blue Superior Nutrition, Willard R. Smith Photography (Southern Living), Joe Loves Lobster Rolls, Firehouse Nutz, Sea Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, Lowcountry Produce, Boundary Street Cafe, Tutor Doctor, Palmetto Kettle Corn, Teal Palmetto, Lines Designs, Emma Keene Kids, Long Impressions Photography, Making Memories Stick, Bootlegger Soap Co., Bay Front Treasures, Walker’s Woodcraft, Coosaw Woodworks, Smart Wash, Crosby’s Cuttings…and of course eatstayplaybeaufort.com.

The festival is produced by Plum Productions right here in Beaufort. We applaud their hard work. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event.

Happy fall!
Here’s some video of the Kids Pickle Eating Contest

For TONS of photos of the festival, visit our Photo Gallery here.