Editor, The Smithfield Times:

Thank you to the citizens of Isle of Wight and points beyond who came out to Breezy Hill Meadworks to partake in a Medieval Celebration of a bountiful harvest created by our family, Harvest Faire presented by The Kingdom of Cornucopia. 

Through your generosity over 1,800 pounds of food was collected and over $1,000 cash plus countless more electronic funds were donated towards the Harvest Faire Crusade against hunger. The Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore reported this equated to 3,548 meals being donated.

But that was not all there was. Starting last September, the Harvest Faire planning committee approached us about relocating their event to our grounds. After their first tour, they were sold on making it happen. Over several months they converted the wooded grounds into a near authentic shire, with encampments for various groups of the renaissance community and period vendors.

On Friday participants arrived: Vikings, Goths, Knights, Saxons, Pirates and more. Even a mermaid was on hand, over 300 in all. Fifty-six vendors included blacksmiths, armorers, swordsmiths, clothiers, soothsayers, jewelers and authors. Every bend of the wooded trails revealed another wonder.

Both days musicians donated their performances to the Crusade. The food court contained several vendors offering a variety of food. Turnout was so good, the food vendors sold out both days’ supplies on Saturday, leaving them scrambling to restock for Sunday.

Attendance exceeded expectations, the final count just under 13,000, about three times anticipated. The first day a little logistic issue with parking resulted, but after deploying additional Harvest Faire staff assisting with coordinating the coming and goings of visitors, everyone wanting to attend the Faire was able to come and enjoy. To anyone caught in the traffic jam, I apologize, and I thank you for your patience. There will be more parking next year.

Again, thank you to everyone who came out to support this worthy cause and partake in the faire. Thank you to Harvest Faire for creating an enchanting and memorable weekend.

Here’s to next year.

Ed Schweiger

Manager

Breezy Hill Meadows

Smithfield