Food, fun & farmers

2016 Farm 2 Fork Festival set for Sept. 3

SARANAC LAKE — The seventh installment of the annual Farm 2 Fork Festival will feature a new twist.

For 2016, Farm 2 Fork presents the “BBQ Under the Big Top,” a celebration of local food and farmers infused with a circus atmosphere.

“We wanted to shake things up this year,” said Gail Brill, who heads up Farm 2 Fork’s all-volunteer organizing committee. “In past years, we’ve featured a local menu, served up by our home cooks and featuring ingredients from producers across the region. This year, our team will serve up a barbecue menu for herbivores and carnivores, showcasing products from local farmers. To add to the festive environment, we’re bringing in some classic circus activities, including a dunk tank, stilt walkers and more.”

Farm 2 Fork is a collaboration of the Adirondack Green Circle and the AuSable Grange. The festival’s mission is to expand support of local foods and farms, and promote food awareness in the northern Adirondacks.

The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at Saranac Lake’s Riverside Park, concurrently to the regular Saturday farmers market.

Farm 2 Fork is proud to once again partner with Taste NY, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s program, run by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to highlight the quality, diversity, and economic impact of food and beverages produced throughout New York State.

In past years, Farm 2 Fork’s menu featured local food prepared by home cooks. This year, home cooks and local chefs will team up to offer a barbecue menu, grilled fresh at Riverside Park. All meats and produce will come from local farms. The menu also includes pickles, slaw, grilled corn on the cob, grilled veggies and frozen yogurt.

Big top activities include a dunk tank, which will offer a chance to dunk Peter Crowley of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Bob Bayruns of Ace Hardware, Doug Haney of Cycle Adirondacks, and Connor Celeste of the Winter Carnival Court 2016. Stilt walkers Pete and Amy Nelson of Keene will provide entertainment, and face-painting and temporary tattoos will be available for kids and adults.

The musical act for this year’s festival is Slow Pony, a duo consisting of Savannah Levin and Eli Argo. They will also be performing at Hobofest the following day, Sunday, Sept. 4.

The Saranac Lake Village Farmers’ Market runs throughout the day; visitors are encouraged to purchase goods from vendors and try some of the day’s recipes. Additionally, Saranac Lake’s lively downtown is just a short walk from Riverside Park.

Adirondack Green Circle events are always “leave no trace.” To that end, Farm 2 Fork has partnered with North Country School and Camp Treetops to use its composter to take care of any food waste generated by the event.

This year’s festival is sponsored by Apex Solar, Casella, Taste NY, and Sotheby's. North Country Public Radio is media sponsor for the event.

For festival updates, check back to this site or visit our Facebook page, Farm 2 Fork Festival in Saranac Lake.
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For more information about the Farm 2 Fork Festival, please contact Gail Brill at gailbrilldesign@gmail.com.