A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
Residents and visitors alike will want to mark their calendars for the weekend of October 7th – 8th as a not-to-be-missed annual New England tradition in Massachusetts. Co-sponsored by the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ and Ocean Spray, this family-friendly event pairs the tradition of harvesting cranberries with festivities, live music, delicious food, and more. In fact, visitors can even opt to borrow a pair of waders and get up close and personal with the cranberry-flooded bog. Can you imagine a more unique way to mark the fall season?
Hosted by the A.D. Makepeace Company, the Cranberry Harvest Celebration is in its 14th year of entertaining and educating visitors about the cranberry industry.
Over the course of two days, the event is expected to attract over 30,000 visitors from around the globe to its 100-acre site nestled in Plymouth County.
Once you arrive, be sure to take the Bog Shuttle bus so you can be front row for the event's main spectacle.
If you've never seen the cranberry harvest before, keep your eyes open for friendly folks in orange "Bog Talk" vests. They are the local growers who are more than happy to shed some light on this New England tradition.
And if you're feeling inspired, you can borrow some waders and get an up-close view of the operation.
Set-up by the pond, there will also be a farmers market sharing delicious local produce. To see a complete list of the food vendors that will be present at this year's event, click here.
Nature enthusiasts will love the birds of prey demonstrations.
Admission to the event is $10, $5 for seniors and military, and children under 7 are admitted free. Admission includes continuous viewing of all wet harvest operations, animal demonstrations, live music, cooking demonstrations, and many children’s activities. Some activities are available by donation to the non-profit organizations that offer them. A portion of the admission fees go to local nonprofit organizations that help staff the event and to local food pantries. Parking and shuttle transportation are free. With the exception of service animals, pets and other animals are not allowed.
To learn more about the annual Cranberry Harvest Festival, be sure to visit the official website here. Have you attended Massachusetts’ most unique autumn event? If so, be sure to share your experiences there with us!
