The Harvest Homecoming Festival in downtown New Albany drew thousands of visitors the weekend of October 4-6.
Attendees gathered to enjoy a parade, food, and lots of booths celebrating the season. The
event showcased the spirit of southern Indiana with dozens of local booths and
community pride.

The annual festival, organized by the Harvest Homecoming Committee, was created to bring the
community together and support local small businesses. The event’s main goal is to celebrate fall and
bring people out to connect with one another.

Rows of booths lined the streets downtown, with vendors selling everything from homemade candies to
handcrafted clothing. Space Snackers, a family-owned freeze dried candy company, has participated in the festival for the past two years.
“I went to my first show and sold out of everything, so I thought I should keep doing it,” said the owner. “Harvest is my
favorite festival to come too!”

The event also offered several booths with trinkets, clothing, and local businesses. Photographer Lilly
Flower, who has covered the festival for 2 years, said it’s amazing how the community comes together.
When asked what makes Harvest more special or different from other events, she said, “We are called
the Orange family because everyone is a volunteer. It is very community based, and I love being a part of
it.”

Crowds stretched along Market Street as the smell of many different foods fill the air. For many,
attending the festival is a fall tradition passed down through generations.

Morgan Friedholdt, a bystander enjoying the festival, shared her personal reason for coming each year.
“It’s something I started doing when I moved to New Albany. I love walking around and seeing local
businesses that I have never heard of. It is such a great opportunity for them to get exposure. I also love
coming here to get chicken and dumplings.”

The festival was staffed largely by volunteers, who help set up booths, clean up the streets, and
coordinate activities. Organizers credit community involvement as the key to its continued success.
“They are literally running the show, “ Flower said.

As the lights dimmed over the Ohio River on the final night, laughter, music, and the smell of kettle corn
still lingered. For New Albany, the Harvest Homecoming remains a reminder of community spirit rooted
in tradition, but always growing stronger.