Record number of people attend Harvest Day Festival at Pioneer Orchards Market

A record number of guests attended the annual Harvest Day Festival held Saturday at Pioneer Orchard Market's Pick Your Own Pumkin' area in Jackson. This year marks the festival's 44th anniversary.

The craft and food vendors had items on display as people of all ages made their way around tasting, examining and enjoying the activities.

"This is the most vendors we have ever had. If we gain more next year, we will have to expand," said LaDonia Beggs, who had a display of homemade apple pie.

She said the event gets a little larger every year due to social networking sites and the ability reach people in a broader area. Beggs is the coordinator for the event as well as owner of Pioneer Market along with her husband Stanley. She said the event has brought people in from areas as far away as St. Louis and the Deep South.

"Last year we had more than 2,000 guests in attendance, and I predict even more for this year," she said. Beggs said she believes the rise in attendance is also due to the new vendors people in the area don't get to see on a regular basis.

"We have vendors who make soap, necklaces and a little bit of everything, but the real prize is sharing and demonstrating the process on how it's made," she said as she stirred a pot of apple butter.

Activities included sack races and a hay bale maze. Families were also taken to the pumpkin patch by horse and covered wagon to select a fresh pumpkin for carving. Camel rides were offered at the festival for the first time.

Beggs said the main reason people come back every year is because there is no entry fee and the crafts are high quality and inexpensive.

"Every time a family goes on an outing they want it to feel like it's something special. That's what we try to provide here," she said.

"I love coming here every year," said Dorothy Simmons of Jackson. "It's a great place for the family to get together and enjoy the beginning of the fall season together." She has been coming to the festival for the past 10 years and now shares the occasion with her grandchildren.

Harvest king and queen contests were held for three age groups, with the entry fees being donated to Shriners Hospitals for Children and the American Cancer Society.