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Annual Harvest Festival at UCSC Farm Saturday, Oct. 9

Whether you like yours fresh off the tree or baked in a tasty pie, apples will be a star attraction at the annual UCSC Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The fall festival features live music, tasty food, and crafts for kids, as well as the ever-popular apple tasting and the third-annual Apple Pie Bake-Off (see below for entry rules). All events take place at the UCSC Farm. Admission is free for kids 12 and under and members of the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden; adult admission is $5; UCSC students are $3 with ID.

Nancy Vail picks apples at the Farm. Photo courtesy of the Farm & Garden

Kids of all ages enjoy hayrides and Farm tours, while youngsters can partake of face painting, pumpkin painting, and apple pressing. Adults are welcome to attend cooking and gardening workshops and to browse booths set up by community groups. See below for the full schedule of events.

In a new addition this year, members of the Culinary Alliance of Santa Cruz County will host a "Taste the Harvest" area featuring pumpkin, corn, tomato, and apple dishes. Delectable edibles will be available from many local restaurants, including The Buttery, Sand Rock Farm, Edith Meyer Wedding Cakes, Sweet Pea Cookie Company, Beckmann's Bakery, Malabar Trading Company, Sestri Restaurant, and University Center at UCSC. Chefs Jamie Smith of Sestri Restaurant and Christian Dreyfus will conduct cooking demonstrations, and local farmers will attend as part of the "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" campaign.

Major business sponsors include Christiansen Associates Organic Gardens & Design, New Leaf Community Markets, and Stonyfield Farm. For more information call (831) 459-3240. For directions to the UCSC Farm, call (831) 459-4140 or see www.ucsc.edu/casfs. Free parking will be available at the Physical Plant and Barn Theater parking lots, and a free shuttle will be available.

Harvest Festival Schedule

MUSIC

  • Kevin Denoto Steel Pan Trio 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Farmers' Market String Band 1:15 - 2:45 p.m.
  • Estudiantina San Patricio 3:15 - 5 p.m

WORKSHOPS AND ACTIVITIES:

  • Apple Tasting: 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Apple Pie Contest Bake-Off: Entry deadline is 12:30 p.m.; Winners announced at 3 p.m.
  • Interactive storytelling; noon - 12:30 p.m.; 2:30 - 3 p.m.; 3:30 - 4 p.m.
  • Walking tours of the Farm: 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
  • Herb walks through the Garden with Jeanine Pollak, Botanic Adventures: 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.; 3 - 4 p.m.
  • Cooking demonstrations: 1:15 - 3 p.m.
  • Landscaping with perennials with Ken Foster, Terra Nova Landscaping: 3 - 3:30 p.m.

Official Rules for the 2004 Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden Apple Pie Bake-Off

1. The Friends of Farm & Garden Apple Pie Bake-Off is a nonprofessional baking competition open to Harvest Festival attendees (entry to the Harvest Festival is $5; Friends of the Farm & Garden members and children 12 and under are free).

2. Contestants are responsible for submitting a written (preferably typed) recipe with their pie.

3. Contestants are responsible for supplying all ingredients and cooking the pie prior to bringing it to the bake-off.

4. All entries in this contest must be homemade.

5. A representative of the Friends of the Farm & Garden will assign each contestant a number. Contestants should verify that the number on the bottom of their container is the same number assigned by the representative.

6. Contestants' entries are judged 70 percent on taste and 30 percent on presentation, creativity, and composition.

7. The decision of the judges shall be final.

All pies must be entered by 12:30 p.m. at the Farm & Garden Harvest Festival, UCSC Farm. Judging begins at 12:45 p.m. Awards will be presented at 3 p.m. For additional copies of the bake-off rules contact Joan Tannheimer at (831) 459-3240.


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