Family event blends autumn adventures with educational discovery

Chino Valley, Arizona – The air is chilling, the colors are turning. Pumpkin Spice products have covered the Trader Joe’s. But Yavapai College offers the signature, seasonal event that celebrates Autumn in all its glory. Join us for hayrides, corn mazes, edible delights and much more at the Harvest Festival, Saturday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Yavapai College’s Chino Valley Agribusiness Center, 2275 Old Home Manor Drive, in Chino Valley.

Sponsored in partnership with the Town of Chino Valley and the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce, Yavapai College’s Harvest Festival has become a local classic because it deftly blends outdoor adventures, seasonal delicacies and educational opportunities under a beautiful blue Chino sky.

 “Fun for the whole family, that’s our priority,” said Marnee Zazueta, Yavapai College Career and Technical Education Associate Dean. “We will have so many family activities, including the hayride, the pumpkin patch – one free pumpkin per family – the corn maze, the plant sale and the beloved Kid’s Zone, which expands its activities every year.”

Parents can savor the autumn air while shopping the craft vendor fair, enjoying the beer garden – with live music from Andrew Dearing – or sampling the seven food trucks that hold court at the festival.

The Harvest Festival also hosts tours and activities that highlight the College’s wide range of agricultural programs and technical trades, including Horticulture, Aquaculture, drone flights, commercial driving simulators, welding, automotive repair, electric utility technician training, EMS training, the culinary arts and more.

“You’ll get to experience what the Campus offers and what Yavapai College offers.” Zazueta said. “This is an opportunity to share ourselves with the community. So come hungry, leave with a full belly and autumn in your heart.”

The Harvest Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Yavapai College’s Chino Valley Agribusiness Center, 2275 Old Home Manor Drive, in Chino Valley. Parking for the event is $5. Admission is free. For more information on the festival or YC’s Chino Valley programs, please call (928) 717-7720 or visit: www.yc.edu/harvestfest

Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over one hundred degrees and certificates, four baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about YC, visit www.yc.edu.