9th Annual Harvest Moon Festival Is Saturday

      The 9th annual Harvest Moon Fall Festival is Saturday from 9-6 at the Dawes County Fairgrounds in Chadron with a wide range of vendors, activities, fundraisers, and food choices.

      Festival coordinator Julie Lawrence started the Festival at the Box Butte County Fairgrounds in Hemingford, but felt after the 7th year that it had outgrown the facilities and moved it to Chadron.

       She says the response last year was tremendous after some initial worries about attendance since it was one of the first big community events during the pandemic.

      Festival coordinator Julie Lawrence says attendees need to remember that parking is not in front of the fairgrounds buildings as during the fair, but north of the track.

     Lawrence incorporates fundraisers for non-profit organizations into the Festival and has a number of local businesses providing support through sponsorships. In fact, she gives them much of the credit for its success.

Northwest Nebraska Tourism Director Kerri Rempp has been helping Lawrence spread the word about the Harvest Moon Fall Festival. She says what surprises a lot of people is the number of activities it offers.

 Local magician Jerod Fernau will give two performances, but will also be strolling entertainer making balloon animals. 

       Julie Lawrence says the number of vendors, activities, and contests makes it easy to spend several hours at the festival – with all the food choices making it even easier.

The food choices actually begin before the Festival with the Hay Springs FFA Pancake Breakfast beginning at 8:00.    

       A full Harvest Moon Fall Festival schedule with maps showing which building is hosting which activity or vendor can be found online at harvestmoonfallfestival.com.