PORT JERVIS – There was something fun and fall-related for everyone to do this past weekend at Port Jervis’ third annual Harvest Festival.
Sponsored by Port Jervis Police, Recreation, and Fire Departments, and by the city’s Department of Public Works and ShopRite of Matamoras, the festival was held at Riverside Park on Sunday afternoon. It included hayrides, face painting, a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, bonfire, Touch-A-Truck vehicles, and apple cider, doughnuts, s’mores, and hot chocolate refreshments – all free of charge.
The petting zoo featured goats, bunnies, and other adorable pets, most adorned in creative Halloween pet costumes. Kids were able to climb on and explore fire department vehicles, a rescue boat, ambulance and police vehicles, and a DPW dump truck. Hayrides transported families to a special pumpkin patch where children could choose pumpkins to paint on site or carve at home.
While hundreds of pumpkins were scattered across the grass, the turnout was so strong that the patch was empty within the first hours of the event.
Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden said organizers are very happy with an annually increasing turnout, and supplies will bumped-up again for next year. “It went wonderfully well. We had such a large turnout, and a lot of smiling faces. We’re really excited about the way things went today, and we’re already thinking of ways to improve it for next year,” Worden said.
The chief praised the support of all city departments in helping with the October harvest event.
“It was a great day to celebrate the things we are thankful for in our beautiful community. It was a beautiful day, foliage is likely at peak, and we’re thankful we got to celebrate today by putting this on for our community,” Worden said.
