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Date: 10/12/2021
EASTHAMPTON – After a lost 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Easthampton Harvest Fest is returning this year for a “small evening” of outdoor activities at Nonotuck Park on 1 Doley Field Rd.
The free event, which is occurring on Oct. 23 from 4 to 7:30 p.m., will feature a bonfire at 5 p.m., Halloween cartoons like “Toy Story of Terror” on the big screen from 6 to 7 p.m., and a “Rag Shag” candy handout conducted at Sheehan Field from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Residents, especially children, are encouraged to dress up and bring their own candy bag for the handout.
According to John Mason, the director of the city’s Parks & Recreation Department, this year’s festival is much more scaled down than previous ones in Easthampton. In 2020, the city did not spearhead a full in-person festival, but rather hosted a virtual “Rag Shag” Halloween festival with the help of Easthampton Media where residents were asked to submit a short two-to-five-minute video highlighting a specific Halloween theme.
The Parks & Recreation Department will also be accepting carved pumpkins between 4 and 6 p.m. for a contest to see who created the best design. In the past, there used to be a carving station available for this event, but due to the pandemic, the department is asking that pumpkins be carved prior to the festival. Volunteers from the Parks & Recreation and other departments in the city will judge the carved pumpkins and pick what they think are the winners, according to Mason. People can be as creative as they want with the carving.
“It used to be a much bigger event,” said Mason, when speaking on festival years prior to 2020. Past festivals included food trucks and vendors, games for children, carriage rides, arts & craft stations, etc. “Because of the times, we didn’t want people to invest a weekend – out of respect for vendors and other people – and potentially have a cancellation, depending on what the numbers could be.”
Instead, the Parks & Recreation Department wanted to conduct a more low-key festival in-house so they can be more flexible with all preparations. Masks will be required for all residents while inside the park, though Mason said that he does not expect outrageous numbers for this year’s festival. “The park where it is being held is big enough where social distancing will not be a problem,” said Mason. “The outdoor screen is big enough where you can see from hundreds of yards away.”
The “Rag Shag” parade that usually occurs at these festivals will also be cancelled this year because of the pandemic. The candy handout will act as a replacement for the parade.
The festival is now in its 11th year, according to Mason.