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First Posted: 8/6/2013
The Dallas Harvest Festival Steering Committee is immersed in planning for the 2013 event, which will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15 on Main Street in Dallas Borough.
This year, the 11th year of the festival, will be known as the “Year of the Volunteer,” recognizing Back Mountain organizations and those who run them – those who give generously of their time and talents to make our region a better place to live, work and play.
A few special activities have been planned to identify with this year’s special moniker, including a new contest, “Charity Starts Here: 1,000 Reasons to Give.”
Soon, brightly-decorated ballot jars will be placed at a number of local businesses, including Ochman’s Coins & Jewelry (next to Wayne’s World) on Route 415 in Dallas, N-Mart in Trucksville and Fuel-On in Dallas. The event sponsor is Frontier Communications.
Five area charities – Blue Chip Farms Animal Refuge, Back Mountain Trail, Michael J. Cleary Scholarship Fund, Dallas High School Mini-Thon and Back Mountain Memorial Library – have been chosen as contestants (similar to Kiss the Pig) and will vie for the public vote – $1 per vote by ballot. The contest will continue through Saturday, Sept. 14 but there will also be an opportunity to vote at the festival booth on Main Street during the event.
Sometime after 4 p.m., on Sept. 15 the winning charity will be announced and will win not only the money that was collected in their name but an additional $1,000 top prize. Even the remaining charities will win – they will also receive the ballot money collected in their names.
In addition, Friends Feeding Friends food drives will soon take place across the Back Mountain, one within the Dallas School District; and another in local supermarkets, Both will benefit the Back Mountain Food Pantry.
Prior to festival day, judging will take place for this year’s Flower Display Contest. Local businesses are invited to dress up their businesses with fall flowers, foliage and finery, while keeping it natural. Interested businesses should register by calling the Dallas Borough office at 675-1389. The event sponsor is Embellish, Main Street, Dallas.
For our performance-friendly fans, this year’s Best of Open Mic (BOOM) will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13 (5:30 p.m. for sign-ups) at the Masonic Lodge, 60 Main St., Dallas, featuring some of the best local talent out there. If you, a family member or friend have an inclination to perform, enter our contest for a chance to win one of three monetary prizes – first prize, $100; second prize, $75; and third prize, $50. All winners will have the opportunity to perform on the festival main stage on Sunday, Sept. 15.
Local talent, including area dance school students and a special music act or two, will entertain on the main stage. Children will love the Kid’s Corner, located behind the Farmer’s Market, a petting zoo and fire truck rides.
Visitors can look forward to the festival’s expansive Farmer’s Market, featuring the season’s harvest, including produce, baked goods and a host of specialty items.