Local food, drink and activities planned for annual Harvest Fest

BELLAIRE – Celebrate everything local with the Bellaire Chamber of Commerce’s 21st Annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year’s event will include: art, flea markets, local brews, musical entertainment, themed scarecrows, and more.

Zany scarecrows will once again take over the streets of Bellaire where local businesses compete to win the “Best Scarecrow” award. Last year’s winner was Bellaire Pontoon Rental with its “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” This year’s theme is “Storybook.”

Start the day with the Fun Run 1-mile walk/run with Inspire Health at 10 a.m. Treasures await at the Fine Art, Craft & Flea Market along with Kid’s Bounce Houses, live music and the Beverage Tent on Broad Street from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check out the Best Dressed Pet Parade at 1 p.m. sponsored by the Bellaire Animal Hospital, and the “Chopped: Disaster Style” Cook-off at 2 p.m. presented by Antrim County Emergency Management.

Highlighting the Harvest Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28 is an Antrim beverage tent featuring Short’s Brewing Company, Bee Well Mead & Cider, Cellars 1914, Mammoth Distilling, Torch Lake Cellars, and Vista Ridge Vineyards from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., also on Broad Street.

Each vendor will feature of variety of $5 pours and money goes to support the Bellaire Chamber of Commerce’s scholarship program and year-round operations.

Rock out to local music from regional musicians during the festival’s “Open Mic Sessions,” from noon to 6 p.m.

Take a break from the excitement to explore Bellaire’s shops, restaurants, and parks, including the Flying Piggies Funky Flea Market at the Bellaire Public Library in partnership with The Flying Pig. End the day with Short’s Oktoberfest where patrons can pick up a commemorative stein at Short’s Mart and catch live music on stage at 8:30 p.m.

For full schedule of events or to become a vendor, visit the Bellaire Chamber of Commerce at bellairechamber.org or call the office at 231-533-6023.