Press Release: Harvest Festival & Grand Opening of Historic Pinto Bean Museum at Wildlife West
Editor’s Note: We will have more on the Historic Pinto Bean Museum in an upcoming article.
It’s a weekend of delicious locally grown food, tractor parade, 5K Pronghorn Run (links to information and online registration can be found on the Park’s home page), music and fun for the entire family at the annual Harvest Festival on August 26-28 at Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood. This three-day weekend event celebrates the area’s culture, traditions, and agricultural heritage with the grand opening of its newly developed historic Pinto Bean Museum. The museum was funded by a grant from the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area, Inc.
The Festival opens on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. with free admission to a documentary film about Aldo Leopold, the internationally-renowned conservationist. Saturday morning starts with a tractor parade beginning at 9 a.m. at Wildlife West. The parade proceeds along Horton Road, east on Dinkle Road, then turns south along Highway 344 and ends back at Wildlife West.
Throughout the weekend visitors can sample and purchase locally grown products–fresh cut sweet corn, raspberries, honey, pumpkins and other yummy treats. Anasazi Fields Winery will be on hand on Saturday for wine tasting. Plus free hot dogs for everyone!
New this year are behind the scenes black bear tours, two young elk calves, and presentations about endangered Mexican grey wolves by Elke Duerr, filmmaker and conservationist, and Susan Dicks, DVM, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. (Editor’s Note: Ms. Duerr and Dr. Dicks were featured in our article A Wolf Adventure: Bringing Lobos Home to Wildlife West Nature Park) Renowned chainsaw artist Mark Chavez will demonstrate his artistic chainsaw techniques.
Visitors can stroll through the park and have fun experiencing an old west atmosphere. They can explore a replica of the western town of Venus (original name of Edgewood), and see blacksmith demonstrations, antique cars and trucks, old iron tractors and machinery, and historic ranch equipment. Then take an old-fashioned hayride around the park. There will be games for children, folk music by Jimbo, opportunity to experience wildlife up close, and many artists and vendors.
The annual 5K Pronghorn Run starts at 8 a.m. on Sunday with a route that winds though the wildlife park. Race registration is $20 which includes a T-shirt, and it’s $5 for children ages 7-14 years, if accompanied by their parent. A delicious pancake breakfast for all, cooked by Knights of Columbus volunteers, follows the race. Tractor games at the park begin at 3 p.m. on the field in front of the historic Pinto Bean Barn.
Don’t miss the Chuckwagon Dinner Show on Saturday, 6 – 9 p.m. Come early for the activities during the day and stay for the evening free-flight peregrine falcon show, buy a pie at the pie auction, enjoy the barbeque dinner, and dance at the western-swing music concert. Reservations for the dinner show are required by 1 p.m. on the day of the show. Tickets are $20 for adults, $19 for seniors, $10 for children 5-11, and kids under 5 are free.
All activities throughout the weekend, except for the Pronghorn Race and Chuckwagon Dinner Show, are included with regular admission to the park: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 students and children under 5 are free. Music performances are presented in a covered all-weather amphitheater. Plus free dry camping and parking.
Wildlife West is located just 25 minutes east of Albuquerque, off Interstate-40 and legendary Route 66 in Edgewood. For more information, visit www.wildlifewest.org or call 505-281-7655 or toll-free 1-877-981-WILD (9453).
Harvest Festival:
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, August 26-28, 2010
Where: Wildlife West Nature Park, 87 North Frontage Road, Edgewood, NM
Friday 8/26
7:30 p.m. Free documentary film about Aldo Leopold
Saturday 8/27
9 a.m. Tractor Parade
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wildlife tours, farmers market, wine tasting, kids games, tractor & machinery displays, blacksmith demonstrations, artists & vendors
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Folk artist Jimbo
3 p.m. Tractor games
6 p.m. Free-flight peregrine falcon show
6:45 p.m. Pie auction
7 p.m. Chuckwagon dinner (must RSVP by 1 pm day of show)
8 p.m. Sons of the Rio Grande western music
Sunday 8/28
7 a.m. Registration for 5K Pronghorn Run
8 a.m. 5K Pronghorn run
8:30 to 10 a.m. Pancake breakfast
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wildlife tours, farmers market, kids games, tractor & machinery displays, blacksmith demonstrations, artists & vendors
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Folk artist Jimbo