Harvest Festival

84th Annual Arroyo Grande Valley Harvest Festival
September 29th & 30th
Celebrating Old and New Traditions! 
Free Event Features Parade, Performances, History, Contests, Displays and Vendors
 
The 84th Annual Arroyo Grande Valley Harvest Festival & Parade return Sept. 29-30, 2023 to the Village of Arroyo Grande.  The "Harvest Festival,” as it is commonly referred to, is the Arroyo Grande Valley’s longest running free Festival which primarily focuses on area history, local charm, agriculture, community bonding and fun!  The 84th annual celebration features the return of some popular, traditional activities while adding a few fun new elements.  This family-style event brings together hundreds of visitors and local residents to enjoy Arroyo Grande Valley activities, vendors, sponsors, organizations and performances.  Join us for this free event that celebrates the community spirit and rich history of the Arroyo Grande Valley.  This year's theme is "Where Community Grows"!
 
Attendees will be able to look forward to the traditional Saturday morning Parade which will be live streamed this year.  Friday night favorites will be featured: the Rotary Fish Fry, Boy Scout exhibits and an ever popular family movie under the stars!  Traditional contests will be offered for pie eating, baking and pumpkin carving. Popular past activities making a return this year are the Diaper Derby and the Wiener Dog Races!  On Saturday afternoon local dance students from SOPA, FLEX and DELLOS Studios will perform at the Rotary Bandstand plus Zumba interludes with Heidy.  Arroyo Grande Valley food vendors, artisan sales booths
and informational booths will be available in Olohan Alley on Friday night and Saturday.  On Friday night the AG Rec Dept will be showing The Super Mario Brothers movie in Heritage Square Park and on Saturday the Park will be surrounded by mechanical and inflatable kiddie rides.  Well known regional bands Unfinished Business and Rock Odyssey will be playing during the Festival.  Several nonprofit organizations will offer family games in Olohan Alley where the STEAM Trunk interactive and educational exhibit will also be featured for the first time.
 
The South County Historical Society and its costumed docents will be welcoming festival goers into its Museums: Heritage House, the Barn and the 1901 Santa Manuela Schoolhouse. The Historical Society’s IOOF Hall will feature three history presentations on Saturday afternoon along with Cowboy Poetry from Bob Perrault. A special Arroyo Grande Valley history video by Jim Gregory will also be shown during the festival!  There will be semi pro and amateur cornhole competitions all day on Saturday in the McLintock’s parking lot.  Saturday activities will conclude at 4pm with the Boys & Girls Club/Kiwanis Ping Pong Ball Drop from the Giant Arroyo Grande Fire Truck - a first time event in Heritage Square Park.
 
Local businesses, individuals, organizations and families are encouraged to participate in the Scarecrow Contest, provide a Parade entry, sponsor a vendor booth and compete in the various contests. (Register now on the Festival’s website.) 2023 Festival Buttons will be for sale in several locations throughout September.  The Festival itself along with most activities and contests are Free!  Everyone is encouraged to support the local art vendors and to buy Fish Fry and nonprofit food booth tickets!  And, like all other community events, the Harvest festival needs Volunteers!  Everyone is invited to go the website and send us an email if you want to help out!
 
The Festival is organized and presented by the all volunteer Harvest Festival committee along with help from numerous civic organizations and the City of Arroyo Grande.  A special thanks to our 21 Major Sponsor and 30 Banner Sponsors, all of whom are listed on our website and now featured on light pole banners throughout the Village.  Major media sponsors include KSBY TV, CW5 with others TBA.

Refer to https://www.agharvestfestival.com for event details, online registrations and daily schedules.  Also look for updates on the Festival’s FaceBook and Instagram pages.  
                
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Overview of Major Activities and Performances
 
Friday Activities 4-9PM

• Rotary Fish Fry, sponsored by Arroyo Grande Rotary Club
• Vendor exhibits, food booths and fun kiddie activities throughout the evening plus the STEAM Trunk Interactive Exhibit

• The Super Mario Brothers Movie in Heritage Square Park - preceded by the Central Coast Theater Co. and short AG History movies
• Live Music by Unfinished Business

• Parade through the Village on Branch St. (10am)
• History Presentations at the IOOF Hall
• All South County Historical Society Museums will be open
• Cornhole Tournament in McLintocks parking lot
• Agricultural Displays, Historical Tractors, Petting Zoo
• Baking & Pie Eating Contests, Wiener Dog Races, Diaper Derby, Water Balloon Toss
• Local vendors, food booths, kiddie activities, carnival rides and youth activities, STEAM Trunk Interactive Exhibit
• Boys and Girls Club/Kiwanis Ping Pong Ball Drop from giant fire truck!

• Live Music by Rock Odyssey
• Youth Dance performances by students from SOPA, FLEX and DELLOS plus Zumba with Heidy