Photos: 64th Street Community Garden hosts annual Harvest Festival

Fall is here and so is a local tradition for kids and their families.

The 64^th Street Community Garden, 373 64th Street, hosted its annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 1.

Despite the less than ideal weather and taking place during the same day as the Ragamuffin Parade, the day that included a variety of activities and educational programs for the kids was deemed a success.

“Overall, it went very well. We had 50 to 100 kids come in and they all seemed to enjoy it,” said Tom Joyce, a steering committee member and organizer of the event. “Like in past years, everyone received a pumpkin, went around the garden and loved exploring.”

The event was held in conjunction with the Center for Family Life (CFL), which runs the program with the kids in the garden.

Like the past three years, the major donor for the fun-filled event was Foodtown of Bay Ridge which donated 200 pumpkins. “They helped us without batting an eye and have offered whatever we needed for the last few years,” Joyce said.  “They’ve been great to us and that’s very odd in corporate these days. Everyone was able to get a pumpkin and drew and painted on it,” he said.

Along with enjoying games, food and giveaways, attendees were also able to learn about nature. “Kids were able to go through the gardens to search for various insects and learn from different plants,” he said. “I think it helps educate kids with various types of gardening and what can be done with dirt and how things grow. It’s a great free event for families.”

“The theme of it is to teach the kids nutrition and urban gardening,” said Dan Giacolone, steering committee leader and liaison between the garden, the CFL and the schools.

Along with locals, a large group of the kids that attended the event were students attending P.S. 503 School of Discovery and Exploration, 330 59th Street, and the CFL.

“It was successful and we’re already looking forward to next year,” Joyce said.