By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff
On Saturday, October 4, visitors flocked to Jarvis Farm to celebrate the 5th annual Jarvis Harvest. No one could be blamed for staying at home with the constant drizzle of rain and cooler temperatures, but people couldn’t seem to stay away from the allure of the farm in the middle of autumn.
Guests were entertained by the musical antics of the Back in Time Band, which provided them with some throwback songs like “Love Potion No. 9” and “Sweet Caroline.”
Walpole celebrated its 5th annual Jarvis Harvest last weekend.
“Can someone take me somewhere warm?” asked one of the band members, before describing his imagined destination.
“That’s the beach,” responded another band member before launching into a rendition of “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffet.
Despite the wet weather, kids and their families were still able to have some fun. Some visited the Walpole High School robotics team, where they watched one robot throw a series of frisbees. Other kids played games of catch and pickup football. Just an hour into the festival, they were soaked - but ready for more fun.
Due to the gloomy weather, the admission fee for the inflatable “kidz zone” was waived, leaving the six different bounce houses free to be enjoyed by all. Kids had their choice to climb up a blowup slide, find their way out of a maze, jump in a bounce house, or enjoy the three blowup obstacle courses.
Cate Bednarz came to Jarvis Harvest for the first time this year with her daughter. Her favorite part was the delicious cupcakes sold by at one of the vendor booths. Though her daughter was excited for the petting zoo, she was more than happy to play with the sensory boards and decorate a pumpkin at one of the booths. When asked what her favorite part was, her daughter replied promptly: “The cupcakes.”
During its short existence, Jarvis Harvest has managed to attract some loyal attendees from Walpole, as well as some new visitors from different towns. “There’s been some familiar Walpole faces despite the gloomy weather,” said Jessica Fullum, who was working at one of the booths.
Even with the rain and chilly weather, Jarvis Harvest went on without a hitch. The petting zoo was cancelled, but otherwise, all went well. “The fall colors lined up perfect for us,” said Assistant Director Arielle Carney of Walpole Recreation. “And even with the dreary weather, all the vendors still showed up!”
