Bedford Hills, NY– On Saturday, September 14th, from 4 – 7 pm (rain or shine), Westchester Land Trust (WLT) and Somers Land Trust will co-host the second annual Family Farm Festival at Stuart’s Fruit Farm in Somers, New York. Plans are underway for hundreds of community members from across the region to enjoy a fun-filled afternoon full of toe-tapping live music by the Station Agents, children’s activities, local brews, delicious offerings from an array of food trucks, raffle prizes, corn maze, hayrides and more! Free festival tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and available by registering by going to http://bit.ly/Stuartsforever.  All are encouraged to reserve tickets today!

The Family Farm Festival is a community event to celebrate the permanent protection of Stuart’s Fruit Farm, the oldest working farm in Westchester County, dating back to 1828. In April 2018, Westchester Land Trust completed a conservation agreement that ensures the permanent protection of this 172-acre property. Project partners included New York State, Westchester County, the Town of Somers, Scenic Hudson Land Trust and Somers Land Trust.

Families are welcome to bring a picnic and blanket or can choose to purchase tasty bites from food trucks including Gyro Uno, MAC’s Food Truck, Road Grub and King Kone. With local craft beer and cider from Broken Bow Brewery, Nod Hill Brewery and Thompson’s Cider Mill available for purchase, finding a new taste is easy. Stuart’s Farm Fruit stand and bakery will be featuring fresh offerings throughout the day! Save room for delicious free samples of farm owner Betsy Stuart’s famous Brown “Betsy” Apple Crisp! Ice cream, lemonade and cider donuts will also be available for purchase in the Stuart’s Fruit Farm bakery. Don’t forget to get your raffle tickets to support future farmland protection projects and get the chance to win special opportunities and prizes donated by local businesses.

The Station Agents, a local crowd favorite, will be on hand playing tunes that will get the entire family dancing. Festival goers of all ages will enjoy classic yard games including sack races and corn holevisitors can venture into the orchard to pick apples between 4-5pm and pay per pound for whatever they pick.

Follow and use hashtag #stuartsforever when posting on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  Social media posts will be featured on Westchester Land Trust’s website, social media and various promotional materials.

Pets or live animals (except service dogs) of any kind, even friendly ones, are prohibited from attending the festival.

For tickets: Free festival tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and available by registering at http://bit.ly/Stuartsforever  All are encouraged to reserve tickets today!

For more information: Contact Kristen, WLT Program Coordinator, at kristen@westchesterlandtrust.org/ 914.234.6992 ext. 15

ABOUT WESTCHESTER LAND TRUST
Based in Bedford Hills, NY the Westchester Land Trust has worked for 30 years with public and private partners to preserve land in perpetuity, and protect and enhance the natural resources in Westchester and eastern Putnam counties—a densely populated region under persistent threat from the pressures of development. Through the use of conservation easements and outright land acquisition, WLT’s efforts benefit the long-term health of these communities by safeguarding critical watershed areas, air quality, food supply and natural habitats, as well as contributing to climate resiliency.  Since its founding in 1988, WLT has preserved nearly 8,400 acres of open space including 775 acres of preserves owned by the organization which are free and open to the public year-round.