Red Fire Farm Delivers a Colorful and Tasty Tomato Festival for All

Tomatoes of every stripe and flavor

by Deb Wojcicki / New England Fall Events

We're at the height of tomato season here in New England and in celebration of this succulent gift, New England Fall Events visited the 16th annual Red Fire Farm Tomato Festival last weekend in Granby, Massachusetts.

Visit the 2016 Red Fire Farm Tomato Festival on Saturday, August 27th, 2016. Click for details.

As food-centric as we are, nibbling on dozens of varieties of heirloom tomatoes sounded like an appetizing way to spend a warm summer afternoon - and it was. Not just devoted to all-things tomato, this family-friendly event had an assortment of vendors of everything from clothing and jewelry to cat toys; a play area for the wee ones including a bounce house and face painting; live music; LOTS of food and even a museum of sorts featuring "the vegetable freak show" where misshapen vegetables amuse and amaze.

L to R: Red Fire Farm in Granby, MA, Vegetables for sale at the farm stand, Lines for vendors and food.

The festival ran from noon until 6 p.m. and admission was $5.00 (kids under 10 are free). With your five bucks you are treated to unfettered access to the festival, including the tomato tasting, guest chef tent, workshops, kids games and of course the farm stand. The only things that will cost you extra are things you may wish to purchase, like lunch or something from the farm stand or other vendors.

L to R: The line for the tasting, Sign for the vegetable "freak show", Unusually shaped vegetables on display for amusement

Dozens of tomato varieties to sample

The line for the tomato tasting was long, but moved quickly and hungry visitors were rewarded with table after table of over 100 varieties of tomatoes to sample. A small army of farm staff busily chopped tomatoes to keep the tasting tables well-stocked; favorites could be purchased at the farm stand after the tasting. 

We came home with several varieties, but the green and black zebras ended up being our favorite - super sweet and deliciously juicy. We took photographs of the tomatoes we purchased in front of the signs identifying their variety - this made it easier to remember what we bought after we brought the bounty home.

L to R: Farm fresh vegetables on the grill, Red Fire Farm property, Handmade dresses for sale.

We spent about 90 minutes at the festival, but you can easily spend the entire afternoon if you want to take full advantage of all the free workshops and chef presentations. This year, these included Make Your Own Salsa - For Kids!, How to Cook for Picky Eaters and Medicinal Uses for Culinary Herbs. And of course, you could also spend some quality time just sitting on the lawn, listening to music and having a bite to eat... roasted corn on the cob, grilled sausages topped with peppers and onions, wood-fired pizza, basil pesto pasta, and of course, homemade ice cream.

The event was very well run, the staff and vendors friendly and there was plenty to keep everyone entertained. The farm stand gets a bit crowded as pretty much everyone seemed to want to go home with tomatoes, but otherwise the event is open and stroller- and wheelchair-accessible. 

Tips for Attending Red Fire Farm Tomato Festival

Flower crowns made to order

• This event is held rain or shine, so bring hats, shades, sunscreen, umbrellas or raincoats, depending on the forecast. There are some indoor areas as well as vendor tents, but essentially this is an outdoor event.
• If you or a member of your party is mobility-challenged, ask one of the parking attendants for assistance. There are a limited number of spaces that may be available for you to park closer to the event or if not, they may be able to facilitate drop off/pick-up.
• Parking was free but depending on which lot you find space in you may have a bit of a hike to get to the farm. Fear not though, there was plenty of vehicular turnover so a bit of perseverance should get you into one of the closer parking areas.
• Comfort stations are available in the form of porta-potties. There appeared to be an ample number of them as we didn't see any lines of people waiting to get in. However, as there is no running water, you may wish to bring some pre-packaged moist towelettes for your hands.
• Admission is paid "at the door" (no advance ticket sales). However, if you are a Red Fire Farm CSA or Farmstand Member, you get two free admissions to the festival per share/membership.
• Many vendors take credit cards as well as cash and there is an ATM in the farm stand. 

Verrill Farm Day, BBQ, and Apple Pie Contest - Concord, MA

Next Verrill Farm Day, BBQ, and Apple Pie Contest:

Saturday, September 6th, 2014 in Concord, MA. Full listing details here.

With many family and harvest festivals to choose from every fall, in 2013 New England Fall Events had the pleasure of visiting Verrill Farm in Concord, MA. With sunny weather and a gentle breeze, it couldn’t have been a lovelier day to celebrate our favorite season.

The Verrill Farm “Farm Day and BBQ” does a very nice job striking the right balance for a weekend gathering—there is plenty to do yet they manage to maintain a laid-back feel. It’s just pure, outdoor, fall fun. As many families feel that their weekends can be jam-packed, why make time to fit in one more thing? The Verrill Farm event is worth your time for the sheer fact that it is relaxing and peaceful—it is entertaining for people of all ages while being a respite from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.

For one, it’s not nuts. There are various activities scheduled throughout the day—pony rides, hayrides, live music and the like, but the fun can be had without stumbling to your car feeling totally overstimulated. At the risk of sounding trite, it really is a good, old-fashioned, relaxed time spent outdoors.

Verrill Farm's wide open space left
plenty of room to play and roam
and never left us feeling crowded

A good way to get a sense of how an event is going can be understood by observing the people all around you. How are they spending their time and is everyone squabbling at each other and being pulled in different directions? This festival had plenty of attendees, mostly families, and with a wide yard, there was plenty of space for people to enjoy themselves without ever feeling crowded. 

The food lines, the pony walks, and the hayride queue were never too long or slow—they moved along and the kids were happy as can be. Dozens of parents just moseying around, wearing their infants in a sling and watching their toddlers play with plenty of room to roam and move. With the parking lot separated from the festivities, it was a very safe and spacious area for kids of all ages to play and, without tight crowds, parents had peace of mind that their kids could roam without ever getting far out of vision.

Tanglewood Marionettes held a captive
audience of kids and adults alike.

The hill was quickly claimed by kids for log rolling and running—it was such a welcome sight to see so much spontaneous free play all around. There were tented areas with picnic tables for those who preferred to eat and relax in the shade or to simply listen to the band playing. A table was set up for entries into the apple pie contest (though not for the general public to taste or judge) and pie display could be observed by all. 

The puppet show by the Tanglewood Marionettes held a captive audience of adults and kids alike. It was a generous touch that the puppets were kept on display before and after the show for people to appreciate and enjoy the artistry up close—a particularly thrilling experience for the kids.

The food was very, very good—pulled pork BBQ, fresh corn, and cole slaw being the main attraction. Some of the best BBQ I recall eating last year—and although it wasn’t noted on the menu board, many of the items-including the BBQ—were gluten free as confirmed by the chef who was on-site at the food tent.

The Verrill Farm selection of heirloom
tomatoes was a true feast for the eyes 

If you’ve been to Verrill before then it goes without saying that you wouldn’t dare leave the farm empty-handed. The adjacent farm stand was bursting with stellar produce, mostly local, much of it harvested right at Verrill. The raspberry display was luscious in its color and ripeness and the abundant harvest of heirloom tomatoes drew everyone in—we, too, left with a fat brown bag’s worth of colorful tomatoes and some fresh burratta cheese.

The interior of the farm stand offered heaping tables of fresh-picked vegetables and fruit, beautifully displayed and clearly labeled with where it was harvested. There was a full wall of refrigerated cases packed with prepared meals, soups, sauces, and trays of heat-and-serve dinners. Nearly all of these prepared meals were cooked right there at Verrill and you could also find goodies such as local honey for purchase.

There's a full schedule of events for Verrill Farms' 2014 Farm Day here. Other goodies are added this year such cookbook author Terry Golson who will be bringing her hens to the event (visit her blog here) and Patti Small's On the Edge mobile knife sharpening service (this lady single-handedly brought my beloved chef's knives back to life for which I am grateful!).

Festival Tips:

Hayrides throughout
the day at Verrill Farm

• Come hungry. With plenty of fantastic BBQ to be had, you will not want to miss out.
• Bring cash—it keeps the line moving along quickly.
• Take it easy—the whole vibe of this gathering is well-organized but laid-back. Come to relax and enjoy the day.
• The Verrill Farm BBQ and Harvest Fest is a great time if you’re without kids though many of the activities are geared toward families with kids.
• Parking is easy and free. We arrived at the start of the event and snagged a spot right across from the action.
• Although there were many shady areas, places to sit under trees, the large tented area provided respite from the sun if you prefer.
• Don’t even think of leaving the event empty-handed of the beautiful produce and prepared meals from the sizable farm stand.

Family Tips:

Pony rides delighted the kids and
the lines were never too long

• The manageable size of the event and the manageable crowds make for a relaxing experience for kids and parents alike.
• It’s a great place for kids to roam and play.
• Pack a picnic blanket if you wish to spread out and make a “home base.”
• As the cars are parked across the side street, it’s easy to leave things in the car and access as needed.
• The area is very stroller friendly, nearly all on grass, but some areas are a little hilly.
• Gluten-free BBQ and side options are available if that’s important to you but you’ll need to ask the chef which ones since they were not pre-marked on the menu board.