Harvest Fair marks end of outdoor festival season

MILWAUKEE -- Harvest Fair marked the end of the outdoor festival season in Milwaukee this weekend. The annual festival wrapped up Sunday, September 30th at Wisconsin State Fair Park.

The festival is a celebration of all things autumn.

"It`s been going on for 19 years.  It`s really grown over the years. We have a lot of signature things that has people coming back year after year," State Fair PR and marketing manager Kristi Chuckel said.

Some of the family-friendly activities at Harvest Fair included a Lumberjack Show, featuring log boom racing, ax throwing, racing hot saws, log rolling, obstacle pole climbing and more, a petting zoo, an antique tractor display, and the giant pumpkin contest on Saturday afternoon.

New this year was the pumpkin derby on Sunday afternoon, where visitors could form teams and build a derby race car out of a pumpkin!

Other activities included caramel apple and cookie decorating, a giant pumpkin sculpting exhibition, mini pumpkin decorating and pumpkin bowling.

A farmer's market and pumpkin patch took over the State Fair Park's Central Mall.

Visitors even had the opportunity to create their own scarecrow!

The fair featured seasonal favorite food items, including Elegant Farmer's apple pie baked in a bag, pumpkin pie, seasonal breads, apple and pumpkin butters and apple cider.

Boston sculptor Sean Fitzpatrick was on hand, carving giant 500-pound pumpkins. One paid homage to all things Wisconsin, and the state's favorite team.

"This is my studio.  The stuff I create doesn`t last, so when people are able to get out and experience that it`s like being in my studio," Fitzpatrick said.

With the fall season in full swing and perfect weather all weekend, Harvest Fair was a chance to get outdoors and say farewell to the festival season.

"That`s the tough part about fall.  It comes and everyone is excited about it, but then it means that winter`s around the corner. You just got to enjoy it while you can when it`s here," Nathan Colby said.