The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

When you think of a Harvest Festival vegetables and fruits come to mind.

The Chamber of Commerce’s Harvest Festival, Sept. 12-14, the third annual, at North Dam Park, is entirely different.

It’s a fun festival for the entire family and a good way to polish off what has been a great summer.

And it’s free!

Always wanted to take a helicopter ride? You can do it at this year’s Harvest Festival, at a nominal price. Soar through the sky and look down on the things you’ve seen all year long except from a different vantage point. Rides are available from 11 a.m. to dusk Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Get on a hay wagon and relive those early days when it was fashionable. You can Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Dam Park.

Can you bake a berry pie? There’s competition in the berry and apple pie baking event. Judging will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday in the picnic area with winners announced at 2 p.m. Bring two pies, one for judging and the second for a pie raffle.

One of the featured events is the BBQ competition. That’s Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Judging and the awards ceremony begin at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Samples will be available for purchase. The BBQ event is in conjunction with the Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association. Ribbons and trophies will be given and there are some $3,500 worth of cash prizes.

Got a pet that is a bit of a ham? There’s a Star Wars-themed costumed pet show, at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Skateboard Park.

There’s a motorcycle Poker Run Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. Route maps can be picked up at the picnic area on Saturday. There’s a $20 entry fee.

And there’s a slug of food and craft booths to browse through. It’s a great place to have fun and enjoy a meal. They will be open from 9 a.m. Saturday to dusk and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Plus, if you like yard sales, North Dam Park is the place to be Saturday from 9 a.m. to dusk and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s a community-wide yard sale, so it could be huge.

Then, there’s the Beer Garden for adult refreshment on Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The overall Harvest Festival is free. Bring the family and enjoy the event!