Mountain Harvest Festival

10/14/2026

The best way to make 200 friends in under ten minutes! 🤝

We loved bringing the North Fork Valley tradition of contra dance to this year’s festival. It was such a ruckus, good time! Contra dance has been a favorite pastime of the region for over a century, and on this 25th anniversary of Mountain Harvest, we hope the festival enjoys just as much longevity to come.

🪕 Big thanks to hardpressedband and Andrea Earley for providing the tunes and calling. We can’t wait to do it again next year!

10/05/2026

We’re still basking in the glow over here, but we want to know—What does Mountain Harvest Festival mean for your business? 📈🔥

If you were open September 25–27, please take a few minutes to tell us how your business did. 🙏

Your responses help us demonstrate the festival’s economic impact, advocate for local businesses, strengthen funding and sponsorship requests, and improve the festival for our business community.

📣 This is your opportunity to help us show the value of bringing visitors to the Valley. We want to hear what worked and what didn’t.

Responses are confidential. We report only aggregated results and never publish individual business revenue or identifying information.

🎫 Fill out the survey for a chance at a free 2027 NFVCC membership or a booth at 2027 MHF. Check the comments for the link.

Thank you for helping us tell the story of the North Fork Valley economy!

09/30/2026

🎶 For our final music set on Sunday, the Mountain Harvest All Stars delivered a roaring 90 minutes. These legends performed and helped organize the very first Harvest Fest 25 years ago.

During their set, they showcased what the North Fork is all about with this boppin’ ode to our local, award-winning w**eries! We love this celebration of arts and agriculture. 🎸🍷

Thank you to David Snider, Helen Highwater, Tim Veazey, Chris Goplerud, Ellen Hutto, and Tony Peters for closing out an wonderful fest the same way you started it all—with some incredible rock ‘n rock! 💚

09/29/2026

Thank you for joining in traditions, old and new! It was a wonderful fest! 🌶️⛰️🎶

https://www.kvnf.org/news/2026-09-29/paonias-mountain-harvest-festival-marks-silver-anniversary

Festival Director Lillia McClure discusses how the celebration became a Paonia tradition.

09/26/2026

It’s a perfect autumn day to have a perfect autumn day! 🍁✨

The rain has cleared, the musicians are tuned up, and Paonia Town Park is as inviting as ever.

Today’s the day for FARM TOURS from 10-2pm throughout the valley. 🐷🍷

🌳 Or join us under the big trees for live music, artist demonstrations, an artisan vendor village, local food, and more.

We can’t wait to see you out there! 🌶️⛰️🎶

09/25/2026

🪩🌶️✨ The 25th annual Mountain Harvest Festival is here!

Pick up your commemorative merch all weekend at the Drink Local tent, featuring original artwork by Paonia local, summer ester orr. 🐞

09/24/2026

🥳💫 The harvest celebration begins at the FRIDAY NIGHT STREET PARTY! 🎉💿

We are taking it back to the festival’s roots for the 25th anniversary and throwing a party on Paonia’s Grand Avenue, just like very first fest.

📆 Friday, September 25th, 2026
⏰ 5pm - late night!
📍 Paonia Creative District

And just like the very first fest, you’ll enjoy live music, art gallery openings, local food, and the sweetest little street party you’ve ever seen. 🤩

Kick it off with the costume bike parade (theme: heroes and villains🧝‍♀️🦹) led by a live DJ from Paonia Town Park! 🎧 🚲

🍷🍔 Grab some local, b**r, w**e, or c***r from the Drink Local tent, and come hungry for local eats throughout the Creative District.

Ap Catering & Destinations
cow.folk at Lore Cacao
good love
Hungry Bird Pizza at Paonia United Brewing Co
Paco's Tacos 🌮
Rio Bravo
Stealys
Sweetgrass Paonia
The Learning Council

Stick around once the sun goes down for the 🍻 PUB CRAWL 🎸 where you’ll discover even more local music, dance parties, and quirky watering holes.

🚌🌕 While you’re at it, take the free shuttle bus over to Big B's Delicious Orchards for dancing in an orchard under the harvest moon.

Come celebrate, community, creativity, and everything that makes the North Fork Valley special with us! 🪕✨

09/24/2026

🪕💃🏽 Learn to contra dance at Harvest Fest! 🕺🎻

Contra dance may be new to MHF, but it’s not new to Colorado’s Western Slope! This tradition dates back to the early anglo-settlers who arrived in the valley around the turn of the century. Contra dance has been a popular pastime and place for community connection ever since.

📆 Saturday, September 26th
⏰ 3 pm
📍 Paonia Town Park

Contra is a partner-style dance where dancers form long, parallel lines, and dance in groups of four with interchanging couples. A ‘”caller” instructs the steps while a live band plays up-beat traditional folk music.

📣 No experience needed!
📣 A caller will tell you exactly what to do!
📣 Bring a partner or meet one there!

We can’t wait to welcome hardpressedband and caller Andrea Earley Coen to the stage to keep this tradition alive and thriving at Mountain Harvest Fest! 🎶⛰️🌶️