Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, the Sleepy Hollow Festival will open with a plethora of family friendly and seasonal activities. Butler Eagle File Photo
The Sleepy Hollow Festival this year welcomes the season as one of the most anticipated events in Harmony this year.
Festivities are set to take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14.
The family-friendly festival is free to attend and will be located throughout the town of Harmony, with a concentration in the historic district. Parking is available in various municipal lots throughout the town and on the streets.
“For those who prefer not to drive, the festival sponsors a shuttle that takes people back and forth from Harmony to Zelienople, allowing them to park and enjoy their day,” said MJ McCurdy, a member of the Harmony Business Association and one of the founders of the festival.
Daniel and Hazel Lapote, along with their mother, Mallory, shop at a local merchant’s booth at the Sleepy Hollow Festival in Harmony last year. Butler Eagle File Photo
In 2012, Harmony business owners Sue Franz, Shelly McPharlin and McCurdy launched a small, independent festival. “Ethel Mae Hall was instrumental in developing a partnership with the Zelienople Fall Festival,” said McCurdy. “The Harmony Business Association sponsored our startup the following year, and the annual Sleepy Hollow Festival was born (2013), now in its 10th year,” she added.
The Sleepy Hollow Festival this year sees the return of fan favorites such as the Pet Fair at the Center of Harmony that includes Ask the Trainer, demonstrations, rescue and therapy dogs, Butler County Humane Society, Judge’s Park Small Animal Rescue, Blessing of the Pets and parade, as well as the Bow and Meow Pet Costume Contest at the Harmony Inn.
Paige and Meera Lindgren are dressed up for trick-or-treating at last year’s Sleepy Hollow Festival in Harmony. Butler Eagle File Photo
Other favorites include the Child and Youth Teen Annual Costume Contest with prizes at 4:15 p.m. at the Harmony Inn and the Pumpkin Race on the Connoquenessing Creek with the pumpkin drop at 2 p.m. from the Mercer Road Bridge and the finish line at Wood Street Park. Pumpkins can be purchased at the Enchanted Olive or Harmonie Laden in Harmony or at the festival.
The Bottlebrush Gallery will feature an art show, "The Art of Pittsburgh Jazz," especially exciting this year, featuring the work of Pittsburgh local Ernie Witalis and live music by jazz trio Sweet Atmosphere. There will also be live music throughout the day, including performances by jazz trio Sweet Atmosphere and acoustic musicians such as Meg Smith, and James Tobin & the Dewey Decimators.
Additional activities include the Bake Oven Demo-Wagner Haus Lawn, face painting by Gabby Lisella, goat petting, mat weaving and more at the Weavers Cabin, Guess the Giant Pumpkin’s Weight and Prize, horse drawn carriage rides, children’s game on the lawn at the center of Harmony, and a strolling magician and tarot card readings by Capturing Yinz, not to mention trick-or-treating all day for children in costume.
As if that isn’t enough, visitors are encouraged to attend dressed in their best Halloween costume, with prizes for the most creative and original costumes. “Whether you prefer spooky or silly, there is a category for everyone,” McCurdy said.
Hadley Miller looks in the mirror at her new face paint done by Hope from Face Painting by Hope at the Sleepy Hollow Festival in Harmony last year. Butler Eagle File Photo
There will also be a 5K run/walk through the town, with prizes for the top finishers. And for those who prefer a more relaxed pace, the Sleepy Hollow Festival offers opportunities to stroll through the market filled with the works of local artisans or take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the historic district.
New this year, food trucks will offer pizza, fudge and hot dogs/nachos/pulled pork food trucks that will be located behind the Bottlebrush Gallery. To add to the excitement and also new this year, the Harmony Inn and the Union Brothers will face off against each other in the Waiter Race along Mercer Road at 3 p.m. to see who will be fastest without spilling trays of drinks.
The vendor list includes art, wreaths, signs, plants, statuary, pottery and photography, among other things.
The Harmony Business Association events committee sponsors the festival and begins planning in the spring. Proceeds are donated to the Butler County Humane Society.
“We’d like to thank our member businesses and donors to this event including Bob and Sue Franz, Harmony Mayor Cathy Rape, Andrew Orient, and musicians Pat Bauer, Beth Nist and Meg Smith, also the Bottlebrush Gallery, the Center of Harmony, the Enchanted Olive, Historic Harmony, Last Dog Records, Ness Hauf, North County Brewing and Passavant for the use of their transportation shuttle,” McCurdy said.
The Sleepy Hollow Festival 2023 promises to be a fun-filled day for the whole family and a wonderful way to celebrate the town’s rich history and traditions while showing support for the community and benefiting a worthy cause.
