KRIS HARRIS
Staff Writer
This weekend the residents of Fredonia can enjoy all the benefits of fall while helping the community, as Fredonia’s Habitat for Humanity Club will be hosting the first ever Harvest Festival this Saturday, Oct. 8 from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. in downtown Fredonia.
The Harvest Festival will be raising money for the local Habitat for Humanity Chautauqua Area Affiliate. Since Habitat for Humanity is a volunteer organization, support for it comes from donations in order to obtain building supplies for work sites. Proceeds from the festival will directly support house construction currently going on in Silver Creek and other future projects that will be carried out by the the Chautauqua Area Habitat.
So what can one expect from the Harvest Festival? Being that this is Fredonia, music will play a major part in the festivities. Acts include The Riveters, The Guerrillas and the brothers of Fredonia’s Phi Mu Alpha. The Fredonia Dance Team will be making an appearance as well.
In addition, there will pumpkin and face painting. The pumpkins are actually locally grown, coming from the farm of one of the club member’s grandparents. There will crafts for children, but adults, of course, can join in on the fun. Food, such as hot dogs and hamburgers, can be purchased, but there will also be vegan options too.
It’s Habitat for Humanity first full year on campus, with the group only beginning last semester.
Concrete planning for the event began only a month and a half ago, and ever since then, the members of Habitat have been working tirelessly in order to create the best event possible.
Sophomore philosophy major and Habitat for Humanity Event Coordinator Tommy Linares has a vision on what he wants to achieve through this event.
“My main goal is to get the community together and to have a bond between the community and Fredonia. We definitely want to see families there. I want to see families there. I would love to see representation from local businesses too,” said Linares.
Emma Schaible, a senior childhood inclusive education major has been enjoying being part of of the planning process.
“My favorite part about the planning process is working on a project together as a team. I am part of the craft planning committee, and it was fun brainstorming ideas of crafts that can be done at the Harvest Festival. I believe that everyone is working very hard and is excited for the first Annual Harvest Festival,” she said.
Several other clubs will be helping during the event including the Teacher Education Club, the Early Childhood Education Club, the Geology Club, the Council for Exceptional Children and Fredonia Radio Systems, with the latter taking care of sound.
Almost 100 local businesses were asked to contribute to the festival in some way, whether it was a raffle basket or a monetary basket. Even organizations in Buffalo were contacted to support the event, with total donations being near $1000 dollars.
So don’t forget this Saturday to come support Habitat in the Barker Commons. It should be fun for the whole family!