A Bigger, Better Harvest Fest

Enthusiasm and anticipation can only describe what many area residents feel as they look forward to Sewickley’s annual , a celebration organized by the  Quaker Valley Rotary Club and  Kiwanis Club of Sewickley.

So it was no surprise that the 21st annual festival was hopping from the start Saturday morning. There was no shortage of attractions from sidewalk sales and food booths to children’s activities and a lineup of live music -- not to mention free parking and great sunny weather.

Event organizers say the Harvest Festival has , but this year in particular produced the largest turnout ever in people and vendors.

“This was a sell out this year,” said Wayne Hyjek of Quaker Heights, a charter member of the Rotary Club.

Hyjek estimated anywhere from 5,000 to 7,000 people would pass through the festival in the  Village, and by events end, officials estimated he was right.

The event started in 1990, exactly four years after the Rotary Club was chartered, when the two groups took over the arts festival from Sweetwater Center for the Arts and changed the format.

Every year, organizers say the event has picked up momentum.

“It’s kind of grown over the years,” said Rich Hays of Franklin Park, also a charter member.

Hyjeck said the charter celebrated 25 years in May and five of the original chartered members make up the 10-member group today.

 “We’ve been doing community service for the last 25 years,” he said.

The Rotary Club was one of the more than 140 vendors. Offshoots of the festival also included merchant sidewalk sales and attractions such as the outside of Big Bang Comics. Then there were the annual sales, rummage sales, and such as the Day on the Lawn at the Presbyterian Church, Sewickley.

Besty Rengers and her daughter, Claire, 12, were up early for the start of the  sale, where a massive crowd swarmed the perimeter of the church before the yellow tape that cordoned off the sale items was lifted. Then the mad rush was on.

Later on, the mom and daughter duo made their way down Beaver toward the festivities on Broad Street.

Rengers said her daughter was there to meet up with friends, but they were also hoping to find something else. 

“We haven’t gotten to the food yet," Rengers said. "The food’s always great.”

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The Rotary Club is seeking new members. Anyone interested in joining can visit the website at www.quakervalleyrotary.org