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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 09, 2024
Contact: Kim Wells, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, 804-217-1077, kim.wells@dcr.virginia.gov

Chippokes State Park will host the 11th Annual Harvest Festival
Celebrate fall with pumpkin painting, a tractor pull and many other activities

(Editors: Follow this link to download an image. Photo caption: Exhibitors at Chippokes Harvest Festival)

(Editors: Follow this link to download an image. Photo caption: Pumpkin painting at Chippokes)

(Editors: Follow this link to download an image. Photo caption: Apple vendor at Chippokes Harvest Festival)

(Editors: Follow this link to download an image. Photo caption: Pottery and crafts exhibit at Chippokes Harvest Festival)

SURRY, Va. – The 11th Annual Harvest Festival returns to Chippokes State Park Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Celebrate this year's fall harvest at one of the oldest continuously farmed properties in the nation.

The Harvest Festival features family activities such as pumpkin painting, corn cob doll crafting, corn hole and tractor-drawn hay rides.

New this year is an educational attraction called the Mobile Dairy Classroom, which is run by the Southwest/Southland Dairy Farmers.

“The mobile classroom is an outreach program that educates visitors on dairy cattle, complete with a live cow,” said Chippokes Chief Ranger of Visitor Experience Joel Morris. “Milking and educational presentations are planned throughout the day. This year the Harvest Festival will be unique because there will be more events and activities that aren’t normally at the park and we are excited to share this with the guests.”

The festival will also include live music, food trucks and craft vendors with a wide array of selections. Activities include tractor pulls, an active 1930s sawmill cutting lumber, draft horse plowing, historic building tours, an antique demonstration tent and costumed interpretation scheduled throughout the day.

“Guests can see antique harvest equipment in operation and watch costumed interpreters cook on the hearth in the 1850s Brick Kitchen,” said Morris. “Guided tours of the Jones-Stewart Mansion and self-guided tours of the Farm and Forestry Museum are available during the event. We hope you come out and make some fall memories at our park.”

This event is sponsored by the Friends of Chippokes and will go on rain or shine.

Guests must pay the $7 park entrance fee, but the event is free to attend.

For more information about the event, visit the park’s web page.

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Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information about Virginia State Parks’ activities and amenities or to reserve one of the more than 1,800 campsites or 300 climate-controlled cabins, call the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 800-933-PARK or visit virginiastateparks.gov.

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