Big turnout for Elizabeth St. Harvest Fest
BY GABE HERMAN
The Elizabeth Street Garden hosted
its 7th Annual Harvest Festival
on Saturday, Oct. 26. The
afternoon event included free food and
beverages donated by local businesses,
and activities that included pumpkin
decorating, face painting, games,
arts and crafts with McNally Jackson
Bookstore, Spooky Storytime with the
Mulberry Street Library and Tai Chi
Practice.
Justin Dean Thomas DJ’ed at the
event, and there was a live music performance
by Shareef Keyes & The
Groove.
The garden’s greeters counted over
2,300 people attending throughout the
day, the event’s biggest turnout so far,
according to Joseph Reiver, executive
director of Elizabeth Street Garden.
Reiver spoke at the event, along with
the garden’s attorney, Norman Siegel.
The event came as the Elizabeth
Street Garden is taking legal action to
try to stop the city’s plan to develop affordable
housing on the site.
“The Harvest Festival has always
been a wonderful example of how
our community comes together in the
garden,” noted Reiver before the Oct.
26 festival, which ran from noon to 4
p.m. “Each year, thousands of visitors
fi ll the space, enjoying free fun for all
ages. Each year is another demonstration
of the immeasurable value the garden
provides. We promise to continue
working so that community gardens
and affordable housing never come at
the expense of one another, and so that
our community can enjoy the ESG Harvest
Festival for many years to come.”
PHOTOS COURTESY JOSEPH REIVER
Free food and beverages were provided by a number of local businesses for the Harvest Festival.
Live music at the Harvest Festival.
Elizabeth Street Garden Executive Director Joseph Reiver, left, at the
festival with ESG Chair Renee Green and the garden’s attorney Norman
Siegel.
Schneps Media October 31, 2019 3