FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Robin Zinchuk, Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce, 207-824-2282

Bethel, September 14-16, 2007 – Bethel Harvest Fest Filled With “Event Bounty!”

Amidst the beautiful backdrop of the Mahoosuc Mountains and the myriad shades of autumn, the 10th Annual Bethel Harvest Fest and Chowdah Cook-off will be held on September 14 and 15 and a guided scenic bike ride will be available on Sunday morning, September 16.

On Friday, September 14th, a line-up of informative tours and open houses are open to all.  From 9:30 till 11, folks are welcome to stop in at Maine Line Products’ Greenwood Store to see how they create their Maine gift baskets and fudge.  From 8:00 – 5:00 pm open houses will be held at Maine Balsam Fir Products in West Paris, Maine Artisans Wood Gallery in Rumford, and SugarWood Gallery in Farmington.  At 3pm, the owners of Timberlake’s Home Store on Mayville Rd/Route2 in Bethel will host an open studio, explaining the process of making their renowned Shaker furniture and other wood products.  They will also have a raffle for a dinner for two at the Rooster’s Roadhouse, just across the street.  From 5 – 6:30pm, all are invited to the Rooster’s Roadhouse for a happy hour with refreshments and the drawing of a dinner for two (attendance at Timberlake’s Home Store open house a prerequisite!)  What a great day of informative tours!  And don’t forget to travel around the area to view the terrific scarecrows that are decorating the area residences, businesses, and gateways.  The scarecrow theme is “Community Partnerships.”

The morning of Saturday, September 15^th will bring the Harvest Fest onto the Bethel Common, sponsored by Hancock Lumber.  The arts & crafts festival will begin at 9am.  More than 40 crafters and farmers are expected to fill the common with their unique products and harvest items.  Besides shopping the craft and farm booths, all are encouraged to visit our sponsors’ booths, Hancock Lumber and Allen’s Coffee Brandy, as well as Sunday River Ski Resort, which will be providing information and selling season passes.  At 11:30am, the chamber will begin to sell tickets for the much anticipated and very popular Chowdah Cook-off.  Westminster Crackers and Sysco Food Services of Northern New England are sponsoring this.  A solid turnout is expected from Bethel area restaurants.  This event is not to be missed!  Accompanying the Chowdah Cook-off is the 5^th Annual Apple Pie Contest, sponsored by the Good Food Store, where both professional pastry chefs and talented home bakers are encouraged to enter.  Three categories will be judged: amateur traditional crust pie, amateur non-traditional crust pie, and professional pie.  Gift certificates to the Good Food Store will be awarded to the winner in each category.  Plan to enjoy wonderful music performed on the gazebo by the Mango Groove Steel Band, from 11am through the mid-afternoon, sponsored by Allen’s Coffee Brandy.  So bring your lawn chair and, once the shopping and eating is done, relax and enjoy the talented local musicians.  FREE horse-drawn wagon rides through Bethel Village will be provided from 11:00 – 3:00 pm, sponsored by Oxford Networks.  Make sure to stop by the chainsaw carving by local carver, Steve Stone, and enter the raffle to win one of the carvings.  Everything on the Common will wrap up by 4pm, so plan to patronize our area merchants and restaurants, some of which will be holding open houses, special events, and harvest meals at their respective establishments.

Back by popular demand is the scenic bicycle tour to a local apple orchard (and further if group would like,) led by Dillon Gillies on Sunday morning, Sept. 16^th.  Plan to meet at the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce office at 9:00 am for beverages and snacks before cycling.

The 10th Annual Harvest Fest & Chowdah Cook-Off is being made possible through the generosity of sponsors Hancock Lumber, Allen’s Coffee Brandy, Oxford Networks, Westminster Crackers, Sysco Food Services of Northern New England and The Good Food Store.  For more information, contact the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce at 824-2282.

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