It All Starts With A Parade

Photo courtesy of FACC

FACC Announces plans for 2022 Fremont Harvest Festival
Photo courtesy of FACC

The Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce is announcing plans for the 16th Annual Fremont Harvest Festival slated to be Thursday September 22nd, Friday September 23rd and Saturday 24th. The Fremont Harvest Festival celebrates the rich farming heritage of the Fremont Community and embraces the fall abundance. 

The Harvest Time Parade kicks off the festival on Thursday, September 22 at 6pm, sponsored by Gerber Federal Credit Union. Harvest Festival Committee invites everyone to watch the parade which begins at Hillcrest then down Main Street to Veteran’s Memorial Park. Main Street is filled with spectators, thrilled to see over 120 parade entries including the antique tractors, floats, and other impressive farm equipment. The parade is a celebration of the harvest time with many area farmers participating in the line-up and then leaving to continue harvesting their crops. This year’s parade theme is “The Good Ole Days.”  Reminder:  Hillcrest Avenue will be closed to through traffic from 4pm -6pm, No Parking on Main Street after 3pm for the safety of those watching the parade.

The Pedal Pulls are Back!!! Join the fun after the parade in Veterans Memorial Park.

Harvest Festival Photo Opportunity with the Big News Yard Cards at Veterans Memorial Park, Thursday, September 22 through Saturday September 24.  

Harvest Merchant Open House on Thursday, September 22 and Friday, September 23; visit our local stores and restaurants in Fremont while enjoying the hay art and harvest season.
Fremont Public Library will be participating with treats for the public and if you sign up for your first Fremont Public Library card at any time during the month of September you receive a gift and are entered into a gift card drawing. We Love Nutrition has “Back to School” features, ask about their Hall Pass good through 9/26/2022.  Stop in during the Parade.

Harvest Food Truck Rally - Thursday 4pm – 8pm, Friday 4pm – 8pm and Saturday 10am – 2pm. There will be a food truck rally at Veterans Memorial Park featuring several food trucks – including Chick-Fil-A, Lumberjills, Hola Erapa, Two Hot Tamales, Couyon’s Cajun Café, Dodgers Doggies, Grand Traverse Pie Company and some of our own local eateries.  Something for everyone’s taste buds.  On Friday, September 23 enjoy food and listen to the Kruel Flamingos Band cover rock band from Newaygo at the Stage in Veterans Memorial Park from 5pm – 8pm.

Gather your family and friends to participate in a new contest; Decorate a Harvest Table. The contestants will be provided with one table, to decorate with a theme of their choice – Harvest, Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving. You decorate your table as you wish, (table cover, place settings, napkins, centerpieces, chair covers, etc.) from elegant to casual to just fun, tables can be decorated any way you wish to reflect your tables personal style and tastes. We want to celebrate your creativity in decorating. Tables will be on display at Veterans Memorial Park. Please do not have anything of value in the display, as there will not be security overnight in the park. Tables will be decorated on Thursday afternoon. Tables will be judged by best use of home decorations, most creative, best presentation of Theme.

You can enjoy farm fresh fruits and vegetables from the Fremont Farmers Market! The market will run from 8am – 1pm on Saturday, September 24 (the last day for the 2022 season is Saturday, October 1) under the Marketplace Pavilion. You will also find fresh baked goods, honey, eggs, handmade crafts, soaps and scrubs and plants!

The 16th Annual Fall Harvest Hike and 5K run will take place on Saturday morning! Applications are now available at the City of Fremont offices or the chamber office. Free t-shirts are provided by the City of Fremont, Koffee Kuppe, The Fremont Recreation Center, The Original Print Shop and Tamarac for the first 150 registrants.  Registrations begins Saturday morning at 8 am with the run/walk starting at 8:40am. 

Photo courtesy of FACC

Kids Hay Day in the park! Saturday, September 24th 11am – 3pm will feature fun activities for all ages at Veterans Memorial Park! There will be kids’ games, Michigana, the Inflatable Rainbow Trout Classroom, which instructs young people in the Value of Sparkling, Clean Fresh Water for Everyone!  The Masterful fabric classroom inflates to 40’ long and holds an entire class of students and their teachers.  Captain Mark Jeffers journeys with the students as they travel the migration routes of the spawning Rainbow Trout and learn the secret of Fresh Clean water.   The Newaygo Ghostbusters will be part of Kids Hay Day in the Park.
The Newaygo Ghostbusters is a Ghostbusters-themed cosplay group located in West Michigan. They will participate in the parade and have activities for the young at heart, helping charitable causes. They were founded in 2017. Be sure to get your pictures taken with the Newaygo Ghostbusters.  Local Hero Inflatable Games will have inflatable ax throwing and a bounce house for the kids to enjoy at a minimal cost at Kids Hay Day in the Park.

The Harvest Festival Flea Market will take place at Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday, September 24th from 9am – 4pm.  There are 17 vendors with crafts including paintings, handmade jewelry, handmade hats and scarves, soaps, body butters, fire pokers, wood flower arrangements, pumpkins, gourds, baked goods and seasonal home décor.  Space is still available.  Contact the Chamber for an application.

Get your creative juices flowing for this year’s new event: Chalk the Walk—Free for all at Fremont Recreation Center, 201 E Maple St, Fremont from 11am- 3pm on Saturday, September 24. Calling all artists! Participants must bring their own chalk. There will be chalk on hand if you need extra chalk. Competition begins at 12pm and judging takes place at 3pm. There are four categories for entries:  most artistic, most clever, best use of color and an overall winner. One winner in each category will receive a $50 pre-paid Visa card. All entries are evaluated on overall quality and design, as well as reflecting the theme “Fall in Fremont.”  Register by Saturday, September 17 to compete. For more information contact the Fremont Rec Center www.fremontcra.org or 231 924-3750.
 Apples and Astronomy – Saturday, September 24 starting at 8:30pm, at the Stephen F Wessling Observatory, 6 miles north of Fremont on the Corner of Baseline and Stone Road.  Enjoy locally grown apples while observing and studying the amazing universe in which we live.

Harvest Festival Pickleball Instruction & Play:  Do you want to learn about the most popular sport in the US?  Stop by … learn more from Pickleball Instructors.  Paddles and Balls are provided.  Meet at the Paddleball Court, Maple St. Saturday, September 24 from 11am - 4pm.    

The Fremont Harvest Festival Committee is looking for volunteers to join us in the planning of this community event. Contact the Fremont Area Chamber office for details, (231) 924-0770 or email [email protected].

Photo courtesy of FACC