Nearly 70 vendors sign up for Harvest Festival

By BOB BECKSTEAD
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2012

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MASSENA — It will be tough to find a spot that’s not taken by a vendor during today’s annual Greater Massena Chamber of Commerce Harvest Festival.

“We have a serious number of vendors. They’re coming out of the woodwork. We’ve been marking the spots and we have close to 70 vendors,” said Michael J. Gleason, chamber executive director.

Since its inception, the Harvest Festival has had a following that continues to grow among vendors, Mr. Gleason said.

“We have fame and notoriety from all over the Northeast. We’re bringing in people from all over. They’ve been calling us since January,” he said, noting they were expecting the numerous vendors to offer information, demonstrations and items for sale.

Among the vendors who have signed up are Let’s Go Fishin’ Charters, Seaway Valley Ambulance, Phil & Jackie’s, JoCi Jewelry, Tastefully Simple, Simply You Wellness Spa, St. Mary’s & St. Joseph’s Church, Mary Romeo, Forevermore Studio, Bows & a Bit More, Back the Pack, Massena Public Library, Lottie Hurd, Miss D’S Alpacas, Sandy Mariano and Team Memory Keepers.

Mr. Gleason said there will be something for everyone, including scarecrow making and pumpkin painting for children.

“We just picked up the pumpkins,” he said. “We have 250 pumpkins to paint. They’re the perfect size. They’re a little smaller for kids so they can carry them.”

Mark Bogdan will also have his life-sized Candy Land game set up downtown. Cubby T. Clown will be on hand along with a free bounce house for children and there will be face painting, pony rides and a children’s craft activity sponsored by SeaComm Federal Credit Union.

Entertainment will be provided by Ray Gardner and Donnie Woodcock. The chamber will have a food booth set up outside its offices and the farmers market will also be set up.

“It’s a good weekend,” Mr. Gleason said. “The kids are back in school, so everybody’s back in town and there’s lots of stuff for them to do.”

The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Main Street will be blocked from East Orvis to Andrews streets during the event.

This year’s sponsors are A. Cappione Inc., the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino and SeaComm Federal Credit Union.

Mr. Gleason said he’s happy to see the Harvest Festival attracting the number of vendors and visitors it does, a number that continues to grow from year to year.

“This is what I was hoping it was going to be. We have people coming from all over the place,” he said.

More details are available on the chamber’s website at www.massenachamber.com.