October brings many fall festivals and harvest celebrations. I have a group of friends who wouldn’t dare miss the famous Hatton Craft Festival held the first Saturday in October or the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival the second weekend in October. I’ve attended each of these festivals…once. Crafts, corn mazes and huge crowds just aren’t my thing.
Two years ago I was delighted to find my festival niche, the “Missouri Chestnut Roast-a festival of culture and agriculture.” The Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center in New Franklin Missouri is the beautiful location of this awesome event. This year I attended with my BFF and colleague Sarah a.k.a. the Agrimissouri queen.
The festival organizers leave nothing to chance, upon entering they stop each vehicle and issue a list of festival guidelines. Once parked in the grassy field we made our way to the gold information tent. It’s here that you are issued an empty bag, festival program and asked to fill out a survey. This event is sponsored by various MU education and research centers so be prepared for a few surveys, these folks love to collect data so why not help them out.
We make our way to the big tent which houses the cooking demonstration stage (complete with hay bale seating) and various Missouri made products for sale and sampling. Of course my first stop was the wineries. Les Bourgeois Winery and Crown Valley Winery sampled and sold delicious Missouri wines. Schlafly’s was there sampling their limited release pumpkin beer which I must admit is my FAVORITE brand of pumpkin beer, it captures the true essence of pumpkin without being overly spiced, a must have fall treat! Naturally we saw lots of nuts: pine nuts, black walnuts, pecans. Soaps, candles, mustards, live plants, festival t-shirts and MU gear were also spotted.
Our next stop was the Chestnut tent where they offer free samples of warm roasted chestnuts-YUM!! (See photo above) Chestnuts are sold in take home packages as well. There is a nursery and plant tent, music tent, guided bus tours of the farm, walking tours of the research areas and tours of the historic Thomas Hickman house.
Hungry for an elk or buffalo burger? The New Franklin High School Athletic Boosters were serving these and other main stream tasty lunch items.
Yes, this is my kind of festival, friends, beautiful weather, education, Missouri made products, music and lots of unusual offerings. I think it’s one of Missouri’s best kept festival secrets. Mark your calendars for next year’s 7th annual Chestnut Roast, I’ll be there!
Two years ago I was delighted to find my festival niche, the “Missouri Chestnut Roast-a festival of culture and agriculture.” The Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center in New Franklin Missouri is the beautiful location of this awesome event. This year I attended with my BFF and colleague Sarah a.k.a. the Agrimissouri queen.
The festival organizers leave nothing to chance, upon entering they stop each vehicle and issue a list of festival guidelines. Once parked in the grassy field we made our way to the gold information tent. It’s here that you are issued an empty bag, festival program and asked to fill out a survey. This event is sponsored by various MU education and research centers so be prepared for a few surveys, these folks love to collect data so why not help them out.
We make our way to the big tent which houses the cooking demonstration stage (complete with hay bale seating) and various Missouri made products for sale and sampling. Of course my first stop was the wineries. Les Bourgeois Winery and Crown Valley Winery sampled and sold delicious Missouri wines. Schlafly’s was there sampling their limited release pumpkin beer which I must admit is my FAVORITE brand of pumpkin beer, it captures the true essence of pumpkin without being overly spiced, a must have fall treat! Naturally we saw lots of nuts: pine nuts, black walnuts, pecans. Soaps, candles, mustards, live plants, festival t-shirts and MU gear were also spotted.
Our next stop was the Chestnut tent where they offer free samples of warm roasted chestnuts-YUM!! (See photo above) Chestnuts are sold in take home packages as well. There is a nursery and plant tent, music tent, guided bus tours of the farm, walking tours of the research areas and tours of the historic Thomas Hickman house.
Hungry for an elk or buffalo burger? The New Franklin High School Athletic Boosters were serving these and other main stream tasty lunch items.
Yes, this is my kind of festival, friends, beautiful weather, education, Missouri made products, music and lots of unusual offerings. I think it’s one of Missouri’s best kept festival secrets. Mark your calendars for next year’s 7th annual Chestnut Roast, I’ll be there!
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