A fun community day is ahead. The 37th annual Alto Harvest Festival takes to the streets on Saturday, September 16. A pancake breakfast, parade, car show, kids’ activities, and vendors will draw people to Alto, just south of Lowell.
History of the Festival
Mark Brown was behind the first festival in the 1980s. It was a time of celebration. Street dancing, tractor pulls, and a tug o war between the “city boys” and the “country boys”, with the latter usually taking the win, headlined the festival. Today the celebration feel remains. A gathering of community, friends, and neighbors take in the day’s events. The Classic Car Show has been a draw for the past decade.
James and Eva Carey have assumed leadership roles in the planning of the festival in recent years. James has organized the Car Show since its inception. This year is the 11th annual show. Eva has served as the Chair on the festival’s six person board for the past six years. But the two have been involved in some way for over 20 years.
The morning kicks off with a pancake breakfast from 7am-10am at the Alto/Bowne Township Fire Department located at 6260 Bancroft. At 10am the Alto Girl Scouts will perform the opening flag raising ceremony at Veterans Park.
Floats, fire trucks, bands, and local businesses and organizations will participate in a parade beginning at 11:30am being led by Grand Marshal Karl Foy. Foy has been involved in the Alto community for numerous years. He volunteers at Alto Elementary and is part of the American Legion.
The Classic Car Show will bring in 150-200 cars as it continues to grow. Kids’ activities remain a big draw for families. Kids can enjoy inflatables, a petting zoo, face painting, and a pedal tractor pull. If that wasn’t enough, the Alto Library will be having a gently used book sale. Various vendors will be selling wares throughout the day as well. All activities are free of charge.
Those looking for a challenge and chance to win prizes can also enter the scavenger hunt, pie eating contest. The Blue Ribbon Baking contest will once again return along with Baking Bingo. Lumberjack for Lemonade Contest will once again raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand for Spinal Cord Research.
It’s not a festival without food! The Alto American Legion will be serving chicken and the Alto Bar will offer items including brats and ribs. The Lowell Robotics Team will have walking tacos and more.
A Fall Welcome
As the warm days of summer turn to crisp fall evenings the Alto Harvest Festival is a good way to kick off autumn. Over 2000 visit the festival each year. Activities throughout the day are geared to people of all ages. For nearly four decades the Alto Harvest Festival has been providing fun and entertainment. Don’t miss out on experiencing the event for yourself.
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