Harvest Festival Returns to Croft Farm Sunday

Break out the scarecrows, it’s Harvest Festival time.

Cherry Hill’s annual celebration of all things autumn, with crafts, live entertainment and more, returns Sunday at Croft Farm from noon to 4 p.m.

Whether you’re looking for perennial favorites—crafters or entertainment like the Give & Take Jugglers—or want to check out the juried photography show inside the arts center or just enjoy a day out at the historic farm site, there’s something for everyone.

This year, there’ll also be a full farmers market at the festival, run by Springdale Farms, featuring fall produce.

Along with that, Springdale will have a pick-your-own pumpkin patch and a scarecrow display, featuring scarecrows created by kids earlier this month.

Also look for environmental education program It’s In Our Power and information on the Mayor’s Wellness program, both of which will be represented at the festival.

“This is the perfect way to spend a Sunday with your family, and best of all, it is completely free to attend,” Mayor Chuck Cahn wrote in his weekly column. “If you have children, or if you’re just looking for an excuse to visit one of Cherry Hill’s historic treasures, I encourage you to check it out.”

The festival also links in fire safety, with representatives from the Cherry Hill Fire Department on hand to give residents an up close and personal take on firefighters and their gear.

Kids will have a chance to dress up in kid-sized bunker gear and get their photo with one of the township’s firefighters, residents can have their questions about fire safety and the township’s fire department answered and take a look at the latest equipment Cherry Hill has to fight fires.

There’ll also be a demonstration trailer on home sprinkler systems from the New Jersey Sprinkler Advisory Board.

Though each firehouse used to do its own open house for the surrounding neighborhood, getting involved with the Harvest Festival has had the added benefit of being able to reach a wider audience, township fire marshal Tom Schemeley said.

“The number of people getting the message…has greatly increased,” he said.