Continuous rain and 66 degrees weather didn’t stop 75-year-old Mike Harrill from setting up his tractor at the Dallas Park Heritage and Harvest Days Festival on Friday.
“For me, the festival is about family,” said Harill. “I show the people my tractor and drive with the people.”
The three day event, formerly known as Cotton Ginning Days, includes other tractor owners showing off their tractors, grocery vendors, arts and crafts stables, 1890 Heritage Village house tours, a children’s playground, and much more.
People still have the option to attend the festival on Saturday and Sunday 9-10. October to enjoy in Dallas Park on Dallas Cherryville Highway 1303.
Harrill, from Maiden, Catawba County, works with many other tractor owners to pitch tents to tell stories about growing up on a farm.
“I’ve been coming to the festival for 30 years,” said Harrill. “I hope that the younger generation will get more appreciation for the older generation who used to farm here and get a sense of family here.”
“I’ll even come here to sit in this rain just for the family experience. I’ve been to a lot of these type of events, but this is my favorite because of the family experience,” he said.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the festival by Sunday and weekend weather may be more conducive to the outdoor experience. According to Cathy Hart of Gaston County Parks and Recreation, the festival features more than 130 food, craft, and machine vendors.
Hart appreciates the course of the event despite the rainy weather.
There is no cost to attend the event, although many vendors have crafts and groceries for sale.
The festival lasts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday October 9th and begins from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday October 10th.
You can reach Janiya Winchester at 704-869-1842 or jwinchester@gannett.com
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