The 2023 Farmers Fall Festival is right around the corner. More deets are here!
Lindsey Chester is helping organize what should be a great day in Downtown Cary. We caught up with her for this Q&A about the big event, slated for 9am – 3pm on Saturday, September 23rd (on Academy Street).
DTC: By the look of the sponsors and vendor list, this looks like it’s going to be a big fall festival? How do you think it will compare to year’s past?
LC: We have 100 vendors including our sponsors. We do anticipate a large crowd, possibly as big as 10,000 people, especially now that people are coming to Downtown Cary every weekend whether or not an event is taking place.
DTC: What do you like most about this event?
LC: What I like the most about the Farmers Fall Festival is seeing people enjoy Downtown Cary and meeting our awesome Cary Downtown Farmers Market regular vendors. If you follow us on Facebook, you will see that we have made special posts to highlight who are the farmers and regular vendors and who are our guests. This event’s main purpose is to raise awareness of the farmers market and that we are every Saturday.
DTC: Tell us about the location this year, where will the festival be?
LC: This year the event moves to South Academy Street between Dry and Park. The new footprint will also incorporate the Old Library Park where we plan to have our children’s activities and vendor booths.
DTC: What can folks expect to see and do when they’re there?
LC: Festival-goers can enjoy music from two bands throughout the day. Blue Sky Crying starts the day at 9 and Ashley LaRue Band fills the afternoon with original music starting at about 12:30. The mid-day pie eating contest is a blast! Sponsored again by Once in a Blue Moon Bakery – a dozen contestants will compete for an overnight stay at the Mayton, and runners-up will get $100 gift cards for Clarks Shoes!
Our local farmers will be in front of The Mayton for folks looking for fresh produce, meats, seafood, and cheese. They will be with us through noon. 60 local artisans will line South Academy Street and the Old Library Park selling handmade candles, jewelry, Kids items, clothing, and more. Get a start on your holiday shopping or buy yourself a gift.
Our Scarecrow Selfie Stand makes for some fun photo memories. Get your early holiday photos with Santa on the Plaza in the middle of the event. Mrs. Claus will be reading stories to the kids too.
Freedom Ride Rescue will have adoptable pups! We are a dog-friendly event and will have Dog Hydration Stations scattered throughout the event,
Speaking of Hydration- Bring your water bottles, as we have a Water Bottle Refill Station as well. Our aim is to make this event as sustainable as possible by reducing the waste this event produces, We have encouraged our food trucks to bring compostable containers as well.
Come hungry! We have 5 food trucks including Beefy Buns, Off The Hog Barbeque, Qspresso, Golden K Dog, and Baton Rouge Cuisine. Four local beer and wine sellers and MC restaurant, The Mayton, and Cotton House are all inside the festival footprint and will be serving too.
Bring the kiddos to Our Children’s Village where they can enjoy an obstacle course bounce house, roving magician, face painting, fake tattoos, and more for free. There will also be fairy hair, a bubble machine, and great kid-centric vendors.
DTC: Who doesn’t love a pie-eating contest? How much fun are those for you as the organizer?
LC: As an organizer, it goes by in a flash. It is a lot of fun to see the crowd gather in front of our stage to watch the contestants and cheer them on. It’s a real fun community moment.
Last year we started recruiting contestants in advance. We currently have two spots open and two alternates. That sign-up is here.
Look for Once in a Blue Moon Bakery to provide a dozen yummy Blueberry pies again this year.
Lindsey also let us know that they are still seeking some volunteers, so if you can help, sign up here.