The Ag Olympics is coming to downtown Dowagiac as one of the new attractions of Under the Harvest Moon on Saturday, Oct. 8.

The sixth-annual autumn celebration is an event of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce.  According to Vickie Phillipson, Chamber of Commerce program director and event chairman, at the heart of the festival will be a display of new and vintage farm tractors, an open air marketplace of antiques, fall produce, Michigan handmade products and sweet delicacies, as well as street entertainment and family activities.

New this year, Stephanie Consford, director of Cass County 4-H Youth Development Program, is hosting the festival’s Ag Olympics.

Participants can register by calling Consford at call (269) 445-4438. She said six-member teams will consist of three boys and three girls, consisting of a 9-year-old, a 10-year-old, one boy and one girl between 11 and 14, and one boy and one girl between 15 and 19.

Deadline for registration is Monday, Oct. 3.

“Among the games, participants will build a duct tape sculpture, toss water balloons and run a relay race,” Consford said.

“Ag Olympics Games are designed to provide life skill development in areas such as communication, teamwork, and leadership through fun games that are agriculture related,” Consford said.  “Youth learn many different life skills through their animal projects, through work on the family farm and through friendships made while competing with each other.”

Corporate sponsors of the festival are: Creative Vinyl Signs, Dowagiac Area History Museum, Kim MacGregor’s office of Edward Jones, Forest  Glen Assisted Living, Hale’s Hardware, J&H Oil Company, Leader Publications, Mennel Milling Co. of Michigan, Preferred Printing, Skibbe Business & Tax Service, Smoke Vision Care, Southwestern Michigan College, Town & Country Garden Club and Williams A-1 Expert Tree Service.

In addition to Ag Olympics, Phillipson said festival goers will enjoy pulled-pork sandwiches, chicken and brats, grilled over an open flame by Smokin’ Good BBQ of Cassopolis and Hubbert’s sweet kettle corn.  Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy Caruso Candy Kitchen’s apple and cider bar, and cinnamon ice cream topped with warm apples.

The Taste of Michigan Wine & Craft Brew will be hosted by The Wounded Minnow Saloon on its outdoor patio.  The restaurant will also feature acorn squash and four other seasonal soups and is sponsoring the Corn Hole Tournament.

Entertainment features wood carving demos, music by the Van Dyke Revue and Rene Meave, performances by MKSOD and Positively Dance, plus interactive fitness demos by Cass County Council on Aging.

There will be a tag and bake sale at American Legion Post 563 and on Penn Avenue Smoke Vision Care will be hosting its Fall Trunk Show.

Families will also enjoy pumpkin decorating hosted by MKSOD, and several take home craft events sponsored by Dowagiac Area History Museum, Dowagiac District Library, Rosy Tomorrows and Who Knew? Consignment.

Children will enjoy music, photos and games with Miss Dowagiac Anne Zebell, a pumpkin pie eating contest and Parade of Halloween Hounds, hosted by Bow Wow Bakery & Bath.  There are also horse-drawn wagon rides, inflatables hosted by Judd Lumber Co. & Rental, and the Smoke House, sponsored by the Dowagiac Fire Department.

For a full schedule of events or to register a vintage tractor in the show or to reserve a commercial booth at the festival visit DowagiacChamber.com or contact the Chamber at (269) 782-8212 or by email at vphillipson@Dowagiac.org.