Harvest Moon Festival coming to Chadron
The Harvest Moon Fall Festival will be held in Chadron for the first time at 9 a.m. this Saturday at the Dawes County Fairgrounds.
The 8th Annual Harvest Moon Fall Festival has fun events for all ages including a goat roping, pumpkin decorating, and beer fest. The newest booth is the kissing booth for the East Point Horspice. This organization is where people can go to get away and enjoy a therapy riding session. Spike, one of the horses at East Point Horspice, will be set up at the booth for anyone wanting a kiss.
“There are 13 nonprofit organizations set up to get fundraisers,” said festival coordinator Julie Lawrence, of Marsland. She said the festival is all about trying to raise money for these organizations.
The Fall Festival decided to change its location from Hemingford to Chadron because the fairgrounds has more room and space to grow the event. There are only two buildings at Hemingford’s fairgrounds. Most booths have to set up outside and with snow and bad weather, it is easier to have them inside in Chadron.
Attendance has been around 3000 for the one-day event in the past. Julie does not expect much of a change this year as they are taking precautions with COVID-19.
The Harvest Moon Fall Festival precautions are following the guidelines that have been provided to them. Instead of having performances inside, they will be held outside at the patio to have open air. All the other events will be out in the arena. The festival decided there will not be blow ups for the kids this year to reduce contact and the potential spread of COVID-19. There will be hand sanitizer placed by every entry and exit to building, as well as the vendor booths. Masks are not required, however there are masks at each entrance of each building. They ask if you feel sick to please stay home.