Golden Harvest Festival

Our 45th Year!

Saturday, September 9, 2023
Sunday, September 10, 2023
10:00am - 5:00pm

ADMISSION:
CASH ONLY is accepted at the ticket booths.
$5 - adults
$1 - children (6-17 years old)
Free - 5 & under
An ATM is located inside the Festival at the Visitor Center and some vendors accept credit cards.

LOCATION:
8477 East Mud Lake Road
Baldwinsville, New York

FREE PARKING:
On-Site Parking
Main Parking Lot: Located at the Nature Center at 8477 E. Mud Lake Rd. Accessible parking is available in this lot.
Green Lot: Located 1 mile north of the Festival entrance on E. Mud Lake Rd. Shuttle school buses will be provided to/from the festival. Please note that you may not walk to the Festival from the Green Lot.
Off-Site Parking
Red Lot: Located at TOPS Friendly Market/River Mall Plaza at 2265 Downer St (approx. 6 miles from Festival). Shuttle school buses and a wheelchair accessible bus will be provided to/from the Festival.

Please note: All shuttle buses are school buses, as such storage for strollers/wagons is limited. We strongly encourage bringing umbrella type strollers and collapsible wagons, if possible. Accessible buses will be available.

Reminder: Pets are not allowed at Beaver Lake Nature Center.

(Tickets for Enchanted Beaver Lake will not be sold at Golden Harvest Festival.)

This old-fashioned, country fair-style event has something for everyone. Hands-on nature activities, free canoeing, fresh doughnuts, live animal demonstrations, unique games, great shopping with local artists and crafters, and an eclectic mix of live music and entertainment round out the weekend. Audience participation has long been a mainstay of the program as visitors serve as both contestants and judges in the signature Living Scarecrow and Wild Critter Call contests.

Artists & Crafters
A variety local and regional artists and crafters offer a unique shopping experience. Interested in being an arts & crafts vendor at Golden Harvest Festival? Click here for the online application.

Activities

schedule subject to change

Super Natural Midway
Original games include Beaver Tail Toss, Rack Up the Points, Leapin' Lily Pads and more. Everyone is a winner here • $1.00 ( to play all the games!)

Balloon Art
Near the Midway ticket booth • $2.00

Bubble Play - NEW!
Enjoy the wonder and magic of bubbles in our new interactive Bubble Play area. Kids will love creating bubbles of all sizes, standing in giant bubbles, and popping bubbles! • FREE

Maize Maze
Can you find your way through the maze? Check in at each scarecrow along the way to complete your scavenger hunt! • FREE

Paddle a Canoe
Watch for wildlife, such as osprey, beavers, and painted turtles • FREE

Farmer Market
Wyllie Fox Farm of Cato, NY will be on hand with a selection of fresh organic vegetables for sale.

Local Non-profits
Visit with local non-profits including Friends of Beaver Lake, Inc.; Golden Fleece Spinners' Society; Friends of Beaver Lake Photography Club; Woodworkers of Central New York; and more.

Please note that horse-drawn wagon rides will not be available this year at Golden Harvest Festival as one of our long-time horse teams enjoy their retirement. We are grateful for the many years of memories provided by the horses and their drivers, Keith Marquis and Joe Mulligan. Visit Marquis Carriage and Wagon Rides on Facebook to learn about their upcoming schedule of events in Central New York, including the LaFayette Apple Festival on October 7-8, 2023.

Contests

Contestants must register at the information table in front of the Visitor Center. Space is limited. See schedule for contest times.

Living Scarecrow Contest
Who doesn't like to dress up in some old clothes, stuff yourself with straw and compete for audience applause?! Come to the hill in front of the Small Stage 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled contest time,

Wild Critter Call Contest
A perfect chance to let out your inner animal! Crowd applause will determine the winning entry.

Pie Eating Contest
Messy & Delicious! There are two divisions: Ages 13 & up; Ages 12 & under. Sign up at the information booth in front of the Visitor Center.

2023 Entertainment Schedule

Saturday	Sunday
Main Stage	Main Stage
9:45 am – Dan Duggan	9:45 am – Dan Duggan
10:45 am – Harmonic Dirt	10:45 am – Seth Rasmussen & The Rail Ramblers
11:30 am – Catskill Puppet Theater	11:30 am - Catskill Puppet Theater
12:15 pm – Harmonic Dirt	12:15 pm – Seth Rasmussen & The Rail Ramblers
1:00 pm – Live Birds of Prey & Wildlife Show	1:00 pm – Live Birds of Prey & Wildlife Show
1:45 pm – Catskill Puppet Theater	1:45 pm – Catskill Puppet Theater
2:30 pm – Westcott Jugsuckers	2:30 pm – Los Blancos
3:15 pm – Live Birds of Prey & Wildlife Show	3:15 pm - Live Birds of Prey & Wildlife Show
4:00 pm – Westcott Jugsuckers	4:00 pm - Los Blancos

Gazebo	Gazebo
10:00 am - Jeff the Magic Man	10:00 am – Jeff the Magic Man
11:00 am - Mike MacDonald	11:00 am - Mike MacDonald
12:00 pm – Dan Duggan	12:00 pm – Dan Duggan
1:00 pm – Harvey Fonda	1:00 pm – Harmonic Collective
2:00 pm – Mike MacDonald	2:00 pm – Mike MacDonald
3:00 pm - Harvey Fonda	3:00 pm – Harmonic Collective
4:00 pm - Jeff the Magic Man	4:00 pm - Jeff the Magic Man

Family Stage	Family Stage
11:00 am – Wild Critter Call Contest	11:00 am – Wild Critter Call Contest
12:00 pm – Pie Eating Contest	12:00 pm – Pie Eating Contest
1:00 pm – Joshua J. Superstar	1:00 pm – Joshua J. Superstar
2:00 pm – Living Scarecrow Contest	2:00 pm – Living Scarecrow Contest
2:30 pm – Wild Critter Call Contest	2:30 pm – Wild Critter Call
3:00 pm – Joshua J. Superstar	3:00 pm – Joshua J. Superstar
4:00 pm - Pie Eating Contest	4:00 pm – Pie Eating Contest

Schedule of performers subject to change.

Catskill Puppet Theater - Full sets, colorful scenery and beautiful puppets combine with art, music, drama and American folk culture to transform even the simplest environment into a fantasy world rich with wonder and excitement.

Dan Duggan - As a recipient of the prestigious National Hammered Dulcimer Championship, Dan’s accomplishment, though based on technical merit, is even more impressive as he is the first winner to have performed all original compositions.

Harvey Fonda - Singer/songwriter Harvey Fonda, based out of Syracuse, NY, combines his smooth vocals with his unique style of rhythm guitar to make a sound all his own. Drawing inspiration from Rock, Jazz, and R&B, his songs range from introspective easy listening to toe tapping tunes that will make you want to get up and dance.

Harmonic Collective - Coming from the Liverpool Chapter of the Barbershop Harmonic Society, Harmonic Collective offers a place for men of all ages to sing and create relationships lasting a lifetime.

Harmonic Dirt - Harmonic Dirt is a collaboration of multi-instrumentalist Mike Gridley and lyricist and bassist Susan Coleman based in Central New York. They are joined by Taylor Bucci on banjo and vocals, and James DaRin on percussion. The husband and wife duo of Coleman and Gridley are prolific songwriters, developing stories that draw from the rich heritage of American folk and roots music, but also weaving themes from literature, historical events, and personal observations into the mix.

Jeff the Magic Man – Jeff’s award-winning shows are family friendly for children of all ages. He has performed on television and in schools, libraries, and malls across New York State.

Joshua J. Superstar - Joshua uses side-splitting comedy, nail-biting circus stunts, and tons of audience participation. Audiences will be dazzled by his charm, awestruck by his rugged good looks, and confused by his overconfidence. Josh has performed at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, NBC, Chevrolet, on the Today Show, and currently headlines for Disney Cruise Lines. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a living legend in action!

Live Birds of Prey & Reptile Show - Fascinating and informative birds of prey and reptile show. Brian Robinson has been providing wildlife education since 1993.

Los Blancos - Their music spans style and time. They rip through blues, Memphis Soul, rockin’ Zydeco, Latin and folk, all played with passion and finesse.

Mike MacDonald - Mike MacDonald is a native of Central New York possessing a natural, self-taught talent for performing a wide variety of acoustic rock covers. Specializing in Neil Young tributes, Mike has participated the last 10 years in Neil Young events such as the Annual Central New York Neil Young Birthday Bash.

Seth Rasmussen & The Rail Ramblers - The Rail Ramblers are a band from Upstate New York playing authentic Americana music, covering a variety of toe tapping tunes from classic country to folk and bluegrass. Featuring lead vocalist and guitarist Seth Rasmussen, harmonica player and vocalist Rick Bush, bassist and vocalist Dan Harrigan, Scott “The Drummer”, and mandolinist Luke Parsnow.

Westcott Jugsuckers - Tune up some Delta-style blues with slide guitar, washboard, harmonica and tuba.

Volunteers Wanted!

Help is needed in many different areas of the event. Work one whole shift and get a free event t-shirt, as well as a ticket to the festival! All ages welcome (under 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult) and scout/school/volunteer groups are encouraged to apply as well. Click here to go to online form. Call (315) 638-2519 or email us at blnc@ongov.net for more information.

Still have questions?? Call us call at (315) 638-2519 or email us at blnc@ongov.net.

During your visit to Onondaga County Parks, you may be photographed, videotaped, or filmed by Onondaga County Parks or authorized parties. Your attendance/admission serves as permission for use of these images by Onondaga County Parks. Commercial photography or filming is prohibited without permission of Onondaga County Parks.