There’s something special about a fall harvest. The air gets crisp, the leaves put on a spectacular show, and suddenly the garden is bursting with the rewards of months of hard work.

And if you’re lucky, you might just find a really big potato.

This October, Heber Valley Self-Reliance and the Wasatch Community Foundation are bringing neighbors together for the 2026 Annual Harvest Festival, and everyone is invited to dig in—literally!

Now in its fifth year, the Community Garden and Harvest Festival will take place Friday, October 23, from 5–8 p.m., and Saturday, October 24, from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at 1335 East Center Street in Heber City. Admission is free.

More Than a Harvest

Sure, there will be potatoes. Lots of potatoes.

But this weekend is about much more than what comes out of the ground.

The Annual Harvest Festival celebrates the people, skills and resources that help make the Heber Valley a stronger, more connected community. It’s a chance to learn something new, meet your neighbors, support local producers, discover preparedness resources—and have a little fun along the way.

One of the weekend’s biggest highlights is the annual potato harvest. Volunteers can get their hands dirty gathering potatoes that will be shared with local food banks and community organizations serving people in need. Volunteers can also take home potatoes for their own families.

Think of it as an old-fashioned treasure hunt, except the treasures are underground and you might need a shovel.

And yes, there will be contests and prizes for the biggest potatoes, so keep your eyes peeled for those superstar spuds!

Bring the Family—and Your Appetite

The festival is packed with activities, food and opportunities to connect.

Visitors can enjoy:

• Potato harvesting and volunteer opportunities
• Children’s activities
• Contests and prizes
• Entertainment
• Local farmers’ market vendors
• Locally grown produce
• Local honey
• Locally raised meat
• Pizza and hamburgers
• Information about emergency preparedness and self-reliance
• Organizations and vendors sharing practical resources and skills

Friday evening will kick off with pizza and hamburgers from 5–8 p.m., making it easy to grab dinner and settle in for an evening of harvest fun.

Saturday morning starts at 9 a.m. with a free breakfast, followed by more food—including pizza and hamburgers—from noon to 2 p.m.

Grow Your Own—and Know Your Neighbors

At its heart, the Harvest Festival is about something that can’t be bought at a store: community resilience.

Heber Valley Self-Reliance brings people together to learn practical skills related to food production, water, alternative energy, emergency preparedness and financial resilience. The organization believes that a prepared community is a connected community—and that everyone has something to contribute.

The festival offers a chance to see that philosophy in action.

Local gardeners can bring produce to sell at the farmers’ market. Vendors will share resources for emergency preparedness and self-reliance. Local producers will showcase food grown and raised close to home. And volunteers will literally work side-by-side to bring in the harvest.

It’s a wonderful reminder that self-reliance doesn’t mean doing everything yourself.

Sometimes, it means knowing who to call, where to find resources, how to grow a potato—and who will grab a shovel and help you dig.

Come Grow With Us

Event organizer and founder Russ Olsen says the festival is ultimately about bringing people together.

“This is about much more than gathering a harvest. It’s about bringing our community together and building the skills, relationships, and resources that help our valley become stronger and more self-reliant. Community Unity is what this event is all about.”

After five years, the Community Garden and Harvest Festival continues to grow, with hopes of eventually expanding its reach throughout the Heber Valley.

So grab the kids, invite a neighbor, bring your appetite and wear something you don’t mind getting a little dirty.

The potatoes are waiting.

And so is the community.

2026 Annual Harvest Festival

Presented by: Heber Valley Self-Reliance and Wasatch Community Foundation
Friday, October 23: 5–8 p.m.
Saturday, October 24: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Location: 1335 East Center Street, Heber City
Admission: Free

For more information, visit hebervalleyready.org