Sewickley Harvest Festival organizers are hoping to draw a huge crop of people to the event next month.

The 34th installment of the annual autumn celebration presented by the Rotary Club of Quaker Valley and Kiwanis Club of Sewickley is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 6.

Scott Zahner, event chairman and Rotary president, said plans have been in the works since February.

He anticipates between 7,000 to 10,000 attendees, weather permitting.

About 5,000 people were estimated to have participated in last year’s festival.

“It all depends on the weather,” Zahner said. “If it’s a nice day, you’re going to attract more people. If it’s rainy or windy, less people will show up.”

The layout is the same as previous years. Broad Street will be closed from Beaver to Thorn streets. Thorn Street will be closed from Broad to Chestnut streets.

The participating vendor tally is also the same at 147 registered — as many businesses as the festival can fit in the space allotted.

“We always fill our slots,” Kiwanis Club treasurer Denny Shea said. “Usually, we end up with a waiting list. We don’t seem to have any problem attracting people.

“We try to take a look at the different types of vendors that we could attract so we don’t end up with 147 vendors all selling the same thing. We try to be cautious that we have a blend of vendors that would attract people to the festival.

“The Harvest Festival is an opportunity for Sewickley to highlight Sewickley. … It’s just a nice thing, especially if you have young children.”

Vendor sign-up is on a first-come-first-served basis. The majority of the vendors are returning businesses.

Scheduled vendors include MK Creations, Country Hammer Moonshine, Team Tabbie Tasty Treats, Shearer Kettle Corn, Whimsical Wardrobe, Wicky Wags Candies, Grows on Main, Sunshine and Sparkles, Silver Fog and Birthday Skirt.

Food vendors include Papa Duke’s, Three Dogs Alaskan Salsa, The Sweet Spot, Gist Catering, Wu’s Shaved Ice, Yamayoshi Asian Fusion and PittsBurghers Food Truck.

Uzi’s Pastries of DuBois is also expected to have a booth. Several of their desserts have been known to sell out fast.

Several nonprofits will have a presence, including Meals on Wheels, Clean Air Council and Sewickley Unplugged. The Quaker Valley Rotary and Kiwanis will have informational booths.

Festival sponsors include the Sewickley Valley YMCA, Sewickley Eye Group, Sewickley Savings Bank, Pressed Perfection, Legacy Remodeling and the Heritage Valley Health System.

Brief history

The festival originated in the 1940s to help local farmers. It took place in a field near the Sewickley YMCA before being moved to the main streets.

Organizers said it was also previously run by Sweetwater Center for the Arts and leaned more heavily on the arts compared to food at that time. The festival was later dropped until the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs began working together in the 1980s to bring it back.

This is the fourth year with Zahner as event committee chairman.

“I like doing this because I like serving the community,” he said. His group will be assisted by many volunteers.

Robert Morris University men’s and women’s hockey teams, as well as Key Club students from nearby school districts, will be assisting with festival setup.

Borough first responders will be at the event to ensure public safety and help build relationships with community members.

Sewickley police will have a safety program from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the borough building, 601 Thorn St.

Cochran Hose Fire Co. will have an open house at its station next to the borough building around the same time.

Heritage Valley Sewickley hospital will have free parking in designated areas from 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Free parking will also be available in the Division Street parking lot.

Vendor maps are expected to be posted on storefronts in the borough’s business district prior to the event.

More information is available at the Quaker Valley Rotary Club Facebook page.

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