Harvest Festival Canceled; Date Conflicts with Yom Kippur

This year’s annual Harvest Festival, set for Oct. 4, has been canceled after organizers realized the date they’d picked is Yom Kippur, a Jewish holy day.

Montgomery Parks officials say the event was inadvertently scheduled on the holy day. The department is not able to reschedule the event because of conflicts with participants including vendors and the many volunteers who make the festival possible.

“We regret any inconvenience and disappointment in cancelling this festival, however we have made a final decision to do so out of respect for the Jewish members of the community and because it would preclude participation by so many of our county residents who observe Yom Kippur,” said Michael Riley, Director of Montgomery Parks, in a news release.

The Harvest Festival, traditionally held on the first Saturday in October will be held next year on Oct. 3 at the Agricultural History Farm Park. A variety of other festivals are held at this park throughout the year, organized by the Friends of the Agricultural History Farm Park, including:

• Blue Grass on the Farm, Sept. 13, noon – 6 p.m.
• Blacksmiths & Traditional Arts Show, Nov. 1, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Christmas on the Farm, December 13 and 14, noon – 5 p.m.

There are also many upcoming fall festivals scheduled at Montgomery Parks’ Nature Centers including:

• The Pawpaw Festival, Sept. 7, noon – 4 p.m. at Meadowside Nature Center
• Apple Festival & Campfire, Sept. 19, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Meadowside Nature Center
• Monarch Fiesta Day, Sept. 20, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Black Hill Nature Center
• Nocturnal Neighbors Festival, Oct. 14, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Locust Grove Nature Center
• Owl-O-Ween Campfire Halloween, Friday, Oct. 24, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

For additional information about these festivals and other programs and special events in Montgomery Parks, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.