HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — The Harrisonburg Farmers Market is hosting their 4th annual Harvest Fest on Saturday, November 7, from 8am to 1pm at 228 South Liberty Street.

The family-friendly event marks the end of the harvest season with a pie contest, live music, games, and fall fun for all ages.

The Farmers Market is once again partnering with students from James Madison University’s Sport and Recreation Management program, giving them hands-on experience in event planning and execution.

This year’s celebrity judges for the Pie Contest are Rachel FitzGerald, former head chef of Magpie; Monica Robinson of Harrisonburg City Council; and Mikey Reisenberg, former head chef and owner of Mashita. They’ll evaluate each pie on crust, filling, and overall appearance.

Past winners show just how creative Harrisonburg bakers get. Last year’s winning pies were a chicken pot pie, a lemon meringue, and a caramel apple. Earlier champions have included pumpkin cream cheese, walnut pie with elderberry molasses, and maple cream pie.

Contest schedule:
● By 11:00am: Register by bringing your pie, along with the recipe, to the Market Info Booth
● 11:30am-12:00pm: Judges taste and deliberate
● Around 12:00pm: Winners announced and community tasting begins

More Harvest Fest Events include:
● Live Music: The JMU Blues Tones and Logan Douglass Percussion, featuring steel drums
● Pumpkin Painting: Free!
● Face Painting: Transform into your favorite fall creature or design
● Photo Booth: Pose with friends, family, and pets in front of Low Hill Garden’s farm truck
● Fall Scavenger Hunt: Explore the market and hunt for seasonal finds
● Bouncy House: Fun for the youngest guests
● Volleyball and Cornhole: Games for all ages
● Over 50 Vendors and Food Trucks: Our producer-only principle means everything our vendors sell must be handmade or homegrown. Enjoy the bounty of our region!

“The Harvest Fest is a real highlight of the year,” said Market Manager, Halee Jones. “it’s a celebration of our vendors’ hard work and the bountiful produce available right now.”