PRINCETON, NJ Restaurant Dining Guide Announcement

Hopewell Harvest Fair Cover Art Winner Announced

Hopewell, N.J. — June 11, 2018: What better way to start the summer than to look ahead to a favorite fall festival: the Hopewell Harvest Fair! A group of local volunteers is definitely thinking fall, _­on Saturday, September 22, 2018, on the grounds of the Hopewell Elementary School.

The Hopewell Harvest Fair Planning Committee, led by Chairperson Heidi Wilenius, is paying homage to the Fair’s roots as well as tilling new talent and ideas. Wilenius has more than doubled the size of the planning committee to put together a group of nearly thirty dedicated local volunteers, exemplifying the community commitment to the Fair.

“The Hopewell Harvest Fair is a true labor of love, cherished by our community and attracting families from all over the valley,” Wilenius said. “I am proud to step up with the strong support of so many friends and neighbors to make this year’s fair better than ever. We are so excited about some of the new ideas for 2018, as well as many Harvest Fair traditions that we are carrying on.”

One of the first projects of the 2018 planning season was a new Cover Art contest, encouraging local artists to create the art for the professionally produced Hopewell Harvest Fair Almanac. This year’s winner, Sara Keeler, captured the essence of the fair beautifully. Upon learning she received the $500 prize, Sara said, “I wanted to create something that felt like the fair, to represent all the local flavors that go in to creating this wonderful community event, to celebrate the rich bountiful history of Hopewell from farm to fair. I am so honored the committee felt my vision fit.”

Traditionally, the Harvest Fair brings together local food vendors, small business, and artists, as well as numerous activities from hayrides, to boardwalk-type games, to inflatables, plus multiple contests, including spoon-and-egg races for kids to those highlighting local talent, like baking and photography. One highlight for all is the line-up of local musicians who keep the crowds entertained all day. 

In a nod to a favorite, but forgotten, event of the past, this year the committee is bringing back the Harvest Moon, a free live music event the night before the fair to kick off the celebration and set the tone. This year’s Friday night event will feature local band Castle Lane, and will act as a fundraiser for the Harvest Fair. More information will be available on www.hopewellharvestfair.org in the coming months.

The impact of the Hopewell Harvest Fair bolsters community spirit during the event as well as throughout the year, by providing scholarships for local students and grants for nonprofit organizations. The Hopewell Harvest Fair Community Grant Program has dispersed more than $200,000 to local nonprofits from Boy and Girl Scouts, to school PTOs, to local nonprofits such as HomeFront. Over the next few months, building momentum for the Fair, past scholarship recipients and volunteers will be highlighted, to spread awareness for the event and the richness of the deep roots of the Hopewell Valley community.

The Board of Trustees and Planning Committee would like to extend a huge thank-you to past and current sponsors for their support of the Fair, including Capital Health, Lear & Pannepacker CPAs, Edward Jones, Studio Neue, and Music Together Worldwide. Sponsorship and vendor opportunities for small businesses can be found at www.hopewellharvestfair.org.

For more information about the Fair, the people behind it, and ways to promote your business and support the Fair, please visit www.hopewellharvestfair.org or email info@hopewellharvestfair.org.