Third Annual Healthy Harvest Festival- 2005
Written by Keppy Arnoldsen & Jennifer Micija
Thanks to a handful of community members who are dedicated to sharing and implementing healthy living choices, the Third Annual Healthy Harvest Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 22nd, 2005. The festival will feature outreach about health, alternative and complementary options, and inspirational and fun activities community members can enjoy for a healthier and happier life. Healthy Harvest Day has been an event of state-wide acclaim for the Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association (HHWA) since its inception on October 25th in 2003 when members Leah Davis and Ann Wishard asked Governor Ed Rendell to recognize this event featuring health awareness and education. Governor Rendell lent his full support and proclaimed Healthy Harvest Day across the state of Pennsylvania, which has been supported by his office ever since as a fall tradition in downtown Huntingdon. This year’s event will take place from 10 AM to 6 PM on October 22nd on Washington Street from 2nd street through 7th Street.
This year’s Healthy Harvest Festival will feature “blocks of health” with different street blocks dedicated to different health groups, such as children’s health, women’s health, men’s health, senior’s health, animal health, environmental health, and mental health. Informational booths related to these different areas will be strategically placed along the street in the appropriate blocks. Businesses, public organizations, church groups, and nonprofit associations are all welcome to participate in the block that fits their focus or health area of interest.
To help support the Healthy Harvest, local businesses are being encouraged to sponsor ($500 donation) or co-sponsor ($250 donation) their block of choice – or to contribute for the entertainers or donate for the healthy awards. HHWA is a nonprofit organization, and all donations are tax deductible.
The Wellness Association is also offering horse and wagon rides at Healthy Harvest again this year, for only a donation. Rusty Fisher’s Clydesdales, Rebecca and Molly, will be traveling just a bit more slowly and cautiously this year, as Molly is “expecting”.
Entertainment scheduled for the Festival includes the folk and bluegrass group, Beggar’s Ryde, with Maureen Wolfing and friends, acoustic guitar and folk by Curtis Rockwell, 70s classic rock by The Grey Shed with Helen and Marty Ulicne and friends, drumming and percussion by Trahandsformation with Carol Lindsay and friends, and stirring strains from the Huntingdon Area High School Marching Cats. Other features include Harvest Humor with Aunt Lou, visits by local leaders, health information speakers, and more!
Monetary awards will be given this year to vendors and contributors who encourage healthy food offerings. So, vendors, think beyond funnel cakes and sausage sandwiches to some vegetable gyros with cucumber sauce and you just may be $100 wealthier this year! The HHWA members want the “festival community” to know that we are serious about advocating a healthy lifestyle. If you offer healthy things, you will gain healthy rewards!
Another healthy offering at this year’s Festival includes a “Locks of Love” drive where visitors will be encouraged to donate their hair (9 inches in length or more) to this charitable organization that provides hair prosthetics for children with long-term medical hair loss. Local area photographers and hair stylists have teamed up to take “before and after” photos of donors and to give them a free hair styling as well. Come support this worthy cause and get a new look in the process!
As always, each year we use a large portion of our Festival proceeds to benefit a worthy cause in our community. In the past we have contributed financial donations, CD Players, and healing music and messages to J.C. Blair Hospital. This year proceeds will benefit the Huntingdon Community Center for all of their great offerings, both at the Center and at Detwiler Memorial Field. What a great community resource!
In addition to sponsoring our annual Healthy Harvest Festival, HHWA members have worked year-round for almost four years to provide community outreach and service in health and wellness through a wide range of projects. Some of these include our monthly Natural Connection column, “Transform Stress” workshops in the community, a “Stress Busters” workshop for the Middle School, a brochure highlighting integrative medical offerings in the area, and even projects involving environmental health, which underpins our own health and well-being. The members want the public to know that we welcome anyone who is interested in health and wellness to join our group, share our goals, and tap into our network. Community members are also encouraged to share a “healthy” recipe with us, to be included in our 2nd edition of the Taste of Health Cookbook, scheduled for release this February. Another “Taste of Health” dinner will showcase recipes from the cookbook in a romantic fundraiser scheduled for Valentine’s Day.
Hope to see you at Healthy Harvest 2005!
For more information on Healthy Harvest Day or the Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association contact Keppy Arnoldsen at 643-3565 or Jennifer Micija.