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Whatever Happened To Monticello's Heritage Harvest Festival?
It's been four years now since throngs of people made their way to the summit of Thomas Jefferson's mountaintop estate for a celebration of all things horticultural and historical.
The popular Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello, which got its start in 2006, was "reimagined" in 2020 as a virtual affair, another victim of the pandemic.
But an in-person return for the festival — and all the heirloom tomatoes, cooking demonstrations, flower-arranging workshops and farm animals that entails — is "not off the table," according to Jane Kamensky.
Kamensky, who arrived at Monticello earlier this year, is the new president of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the Founding Father's estate, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and museum.
Under the previous leadership of Leslie Greene Bowman, the daylong Heritage Harvest Festival attracted large crowds to Monticello every September. Guests flocked to Monticello alongside world-renowned gardeners, farmers, historians and chefs. In 2019, not long before it moved online, the New York Times placed the words "historical" and "whimsical" side by side when describing the annual fête.
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The Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello got its start in 2006.
THOMAS JEFFERSON FOUNDATIONSince it disappeared from the social calendar four years ago, locals and tourists alike have wondered if it would ever return in person. With the days of mandated masking long gone, Kamensky said it's definitely a possibility as Monticello considers new ways to draw people to its doors.
"We need chances to bring the community to the mountaintop," Kamensky told The Daily Progress during a recent tour of the estate.
Those chances may or may not include the Heritage Harvest Festival; Kamensky and other foundation officials made no promises.
When The Daily Progress spoke with Monticello spokeswoman Jenn Lyon, she said the foundation's board of trustees must take weather conditions and operational costs into consideration when it comes to reviving the festival.
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation held $354 million in total assets in 2022, the most recent year for which data is available. That year it brought in $56.9 million in revenue.
Kamensky confirmed during her recent interview with The Daily Progress that Monticello still intended to put on its annual Independence Day Celebration & Naturalization Ceremony this summer.
Jane Kamensky, president of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, stands on the West Lawn at the Founding Father's Monticello estate on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.
CAL Cary, THE DAILY PROGRESSIn the oldest continuous naturalization ceremony held outside of a courtroom, each Fourth of July, dozens of immigrants take their oath of allegiance to the United States on Monticello's West Lawn. It briefly went virtual during the pandemic before welcoming guests back in 2022. The ceremony has withstood changes in leadership and incredibly high temperatures for years.
Another upcoming event at Monticello that is not under threat: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Kamensky said the foundation started to discuss plans earlier this month regarding how Monticello will celebrate what is perhaps its founders most famous words. She said she and other foundation staff are considering a speaker series leading up to the big day: July 4, 2026.
A copy of the Declaration of Independence produced in 1823 by master engraver William Stone has been on display at the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center at the entrance of Monticello for months now. Rubenstein himself, the former deputy domestic policy adviser in the Carter administration and a co-founder of D.C. Private equity firm the Carlyle Group, owns the document, one of fewer than 50 that are still known to exist today.
He gave the copy to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation on loan back in September. At the time, it was announced the loan would last until August 2024 and the foundation would look into obtaining another copy before the 250th anniversary.
Kamensky, however, said she believes the copy will be able to remain at Monticello through 2026.
Lia Du Preez, 4, from Arlington, plays by the fish pond outside Monticello during the Heritage Harvest Festival on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
ZACK WAJSGRAS, THE DAILY PROGRESSEmily Hemphill (540) 855-0362
ehemphill@dailyprogress.Com
@EmilyHemphill06 on Twitter
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Please log in to use this feature Log InWairarapa Wines Harvest Festival Announces 2025 Date
Friday, 23 February 2024, 6:51 pmPress Release: Wairarapa Wines Harvest FestivalGet ready to raise a glass and celebrate the best of Wairarapa! The highly anticipated Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival has announced its 2025 date. Hot on the heels of a fantastic festival last weekend, returning to the stunning riverside setting of The Cliffs in Carterton, Harvest Festival Committee are proud to announce Harvest Festival 2025 will be on Saturday, 15th February.
"We're thrilled to announce the date for the 2025 Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival, sticking with our established date – the third Saturday of February" says Nicky Geary, Chair of Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival. "After a fantastic 2024 event, we can't wait to welcome back wine lovers, foodies, and music enthusiasts for another unforgettable day of celebrating the region's incredible wineries and producers."
The festival showcases the finest Wairarapa hospitality, with 16 wineries bringing their award-winning drops for tasting. Live music will provide the soundtrack to the day, while a selection of renowned local food producers will offer delicious pairings that perfectly complement the wines.
Geary also emphasizes the importance of the event for the region. "Harvest Festival is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the passion and dedication of our local winemakers and producers," she says. "It's also a fantastic way to bring the community together and celebrate everything that makes Wairarapa special."
Mike Weeks, Provincial Insurance Brokers, echoes the sentiment. "We're proud to be the presenting sponsor of Harvest Festival as it truly highlights the best of the region," he says. "Harvest Festival is a vibrant and exciting celebration that attracts out of region visitors, benefits the entire community, and we're committed to supporting its continued success."
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In addition to the main event, the festival will also be bringing back Wine Geek 101 pre-event after its successful launch this year. This intimate session offers a way to ease into the Harvest day while providing an educational and interactive experience for those wanting to delve deeper into the world of wine.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 15th, 2025, and join us at the Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival for a day of unforgettable experiences. Follow us on social media and visit our website for more information and updates. Tickets will go on sale later this year.
Website: wairarapaharvestfestival.Co.Nz
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Great Indoor Folk Festival Returns With Up-and-coming And Seasoned Folk Acts
TRAVERSE CITY — The sprawling and winding corridors of Building 50 in The Village at Grand Traverse Commons might not resemble music venues on first blush, but for more than a decade, they've hosted performances by thousands of Michigan artists.
With more than 100 musicians on board and more than 50 performances spread across eight different "stages," Traverse City's annual Great Indoor Folk Festival will once again roll out in those hallways on Sunday, Feb. 25.
Hosted by the Northern Michigan Songwriters in the Round, the singular, one-day festival is billed as "one of the top events of the year" for regional artists, with both veteran and emerging acts on tap.
"Many of the performers are repeaters, but each year we get several new acts, which helps keep the festival fresh and exciting," said Adair Correll, co-founder of the songwriters' association that hosts the festival, now in its 14th year.
"This year's new acts are Luke Woltanski, David Bowen, Trillium Groove, Ben Traverse, Lynn Calihan, Terry Coveyou, Charlie Arnett and Mackinaw Harvest Songwriter Showcase performers Edison Kitt, Samantha Goodell and Julianne Ankley."
Trillium Groove — an all-girl Traverse City trio featuring SkyeLea Martin on vocals, guitar and ukulele, Keagan Kalbfleisch on vocals and percussion, and Ruby Bardenhagen on piano and backing vocals — will play the New Folk Stage at 1:30 p.M.
"We are absolutely thrilled to be part of the Great Indoor Folk Festival," said Bardenhagen. "It is an event we look forward to every year. We are so excited to have the opportunity to share our music with everyone."
Kalbfleisch noted that the unique festival "brings together a wide range of musicians from our own community. It brings us closer to together and showcases songwriting and musical talent for families to enjoy and younger generations to aspire to."
Trillium Groove, named runner-up in last year's inaugural, statewide New Moon Songwriting Challenge, plans to release its first single, "Mindfuzz," in early April, along with a music video.
"All three of us have been gigging and writing new music, and have the intention of starting the recording process within weeks," said Martin. "I am really looking forward to playing different venues, and being in the studio more this year."
Of course, the Great Indoor Folk Festival will also feature performance by seasoned folk-hued artists who've played the event many times before, including New 3rd Coast, Song of the Lakes, Robin Lee Barry and The Jim Crockett Band.
"The Jim Crockett Band stands out as being one of the festival's most memorable acts," Correll said. "Crockett is affectionately known as 'the godfather of northern Michigan folk music' and typically plays to a full house as the closing act on the Kirkbride Hall Stage (starting at 4:40 p.M.)."
The folk festival runs from noon to 5:30 p.M. On Feb. 25, with performances taking place on the Left Foot Charley, New Folk, Kirkbride Hall, North Duo, South Duo, Solo, Cuppa Joe Open Mic and Higher Grounds Kids' stages.
Admission is free, but attendees are strongly encouraged to purchase CDs and merchandise from the performers who volunteer their time to play the festival.
Correll noted the festival this year will incorporate the Venmo app as a way of paying for CDs and merchandise "for the benefit of the performers," with Northwestern Michigan College audio department handling sound and stage management for the event.
View the full schedule and get festival details online via the Great Indoor Folk Festival Facebook page.
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