CELEBRATING THE HARVEST
The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority invites you and your family to our annual harvest festival!
Around the world, the harvest is a time to celebrate. Whether it’s a ceremony that honors the land, a ritual to ensure an abundant harvest, or a gathering for sharing the bounty, harvest celebrations represent our connection to the foods we grow.
In India, many different festivals signify the end of winter and a wish for better harvests. Holi, Baisakhi (the farmers’ thanksgiving day), and Makar Sankranti are among the ways people celebrate the changing of the seasons and good blessings – including the harvest.
Here in the Santa Clara Valley, many crops are harvested in late summer, sometimes under the so-called Harvest Moon, the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. Our local farms and ranches provide us with an abundance of fresh, healthy food, from apricots to peppers to salad greens. While many of our agricultural lands have been lost to urban development, The Valley of Heart’s Delight still offers an abundant harvest, with more than 40 certified farmer’s markets offering a wonderful variety of locally-grown fruits and vegetables.
The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority is helping to protect our remaining agricultural lands and other open space. The Open Space Authority has protected more than 16,000 acres of land – including working farms and ranches – and operates three preserves open to the public free of charge. This investment in land and natural resources is preserving the region’s scenic beauty, protecting water resources and local sources of fresh foods,, and providing outdoor recreation opportunities for current and future generations.
The Open Space Authority invites you to a grand celebration of our local agricultural heritage: the Coyote Valley Family Harvest Feast. On Saturday, September 19, the Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve in Morgan Hill will come alive with a festival of music, dancing, live animals from Happy Hollow Zoo, storytelling, games, and guided hikes. With ABC-KGO Anchor Dan Ashley as MCand classic rock band PUSH, children’s entertainer Andy Z, and Chef Erica Schaal demonstrating how to cook paella, the Harvest Feast will include lively entertainment for the whole family.
Admission and parking are free, and local vendors will be selling affordable food and drink from our local farms. Don’t miss this community celebration of the delicious local harvest, our agricultural lands, and autumn traditions from throughout our community.
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Coyote Valley Family Harvest Feast
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, 11am-3pm
550 Palm Avenue, Morgan Hill
Free Admission and parking!
Register now at cv-family-farm-feast.eventbrite.com
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