October 6, 2003

4-H Fall Festival To Offer Fun For Families

Live entertainment, an eight-acre corn maze, hayrides, hands-on activities, pumpkin picking and painting, pony rides, book sales, farm animal demonstrations and more await visitors of all ages at the Annual Fall Festival at the 4-H Center at Auer Farm in Bloomfield on Sunday, October 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In addition to welcoming the autumn harvest, Connecticut's Master Gardeners will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Master Gardener program.

This handmade quilt will be raffled during the 4-H Fall Festival October 19.

Cowboy Carl will entertain with children's songs and games, and musician Doug Hardy will sing folk songs. Carl Salsedo, a UConn extension educator from CPTV's Gardening With Nature, will be on hand to give gardening tips and demonstrations.

Visitors can watch demonstrations of ice cream being made, sip homemade cider, and see farm animals. They can stop at concessions booths, where Connecticut-grown products will be available for purchase, or the farm store with products grown on the farm. Hayrides will be offered all day.

A full-size handmade quilt in a maple leaf pattern will be raffled off. Raffle tickets are $1.

Admission to the festival is $5. Children under five will be admitted free. Proceeds will support the 4-H Center's educational programs.

Located at 158 Auer Farm Road off Simsbury Road (Route 185), the farm is operated in partnership with UConn's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The festival, which is co-sponsored by The Hartford and the University of Connecticut, will be held rain or shine. For information, call 860.242.7144, ext. 10.