Hamakua Harvest, the farm hub blossoming at the intersection of Mamane Street and Highway 19, will host its first Farm Festival from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. May 29.
Hamakua Harvest, the farm hub blossoming at the intersection of Mamane Street and Highway 19, will host its first Farm Festival from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. May 29.
The event will feature a 40-vendor farmers market and an all-day lineup of entertainment, cooking contests, educational presentations and activities for children, including a 10-member team of kids from the popular Hiccup Circus.
A silent auction also will take place, offering opportunities to bid on everything from fancy dinners to accommodations to local farm and ranch services and products.
The Farm Festival will be coordinating its activities with the Hawaii Saddle Club Rodeo, a 60-year community tradition that takes place 1 mile away and commences at noon. The two nonprofit organizations are arranging a shuttle bus service between their respective events in a move that will bring the district’s vibrant ranching community closer together with the up-and-coming farmers who have succeeded the plantation era.
Former County Council member Dominic Yagong will be the festival’s emcee. Veteran local food columnist Sonia R. Martinez will oversee cooking contests in three categories – Appetizer, Entree and Dessert – based on best use of locally sourced ingredients, taste, appearance and originality. Visit the Hamakua Harvest website www.hamakuaharvest.org for contest rules and entry forms.
Entertainment will consist of four sets of musicians and a hula presentation by the Hamakua Cultural Center. Musicians will include James Lowe, the Rachel Scott Band, Don May and the Big Rock Band.
The festival’s three main educational presentations will be conducted by masters in their fields:
• Dick Threlfall, founder of the Hawaii Island Goat Dairy, will demonstrate the making of his award-winning array of classic and original goat cheeses.
• Ken Love, globally renowned tropical fruit aficionado, outspoken advocate of the use of locally grown food and executive director of the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Association, will talk about “The Fruits of the Future.”
• Ty McDonald, University of Hawaii extension agent, will demonstrate tropical fruit tree grafting and offer valuable insights into this age-old form of fruit tree propagation.
Meanwhile, for the keiki, the wildly popular Hiccup Circus will be on hand for several hours with their acrobatics, face painting, juggling and balloon sculpting. Scavenger hunts, relay races and interactive games will be going on at regular intervals throughout the day.
Hawaii County Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter and the Department of Research and Development for providing funding to initiate this event. But the festival still needs help with parking, carpentry, cooking contests, keiki activities, education workshops, music/stage management and festival setup. Volunteers will receive custom festival T-shirts, camaraderie and widespread gratitude. Contact Julia at Julia@hamakuaharvest.org or 203-903-1696.
Learn more about the Hamakua Harvest project at www.hamakuaharvest.org, on Facebook or Instagram at #hamakuaharvest.