One Week Until Farm Fest: Here’s What’s Happening Behind the Scenes

Today marks exactly one week until Farm Fest, and around here, that means things are officially getting real.

The lists are getting longer. The grass is getting shorter. Deliveries are being scheduled. Tents are being counted. Signs are being made. And I am walking around with approximately 47 things in my head at any given moment.

In other words… Farm Fest week is almost here.

If you’ve ever come to an event and wondered what happens during those final days before everyone arrives, I thought this would be a fun time to give you a little peek behind the scenes.

First Things First: Places to Sit, Eat, and Stay Awhile

One of the things I really want for Farm Fest is for it to feel like more than a place where you quickly walk through, shop, and leave.

I want you to stay awhile.

Grab something delicious to eat. Sit down with a friend. Listen to music. Let the kids play a game. Wander through the vendors. Take a break. Go back and shop some more.

Last week, I ordered tables and chairs for the eating area tent, so there will be a dedicated place to sit down and enjoy your Farm Fest food.

I’ve also ordered more tents for our Farm Lounge and sitting areas. We’re creating little places around the event where you can get out of the sun, rest your feet, visit with friends, and just enjoy being on the farm.

I’m especially excited about the Farm Lounges. We’ll be bringing out comfortable seating, including some of our own outdoor furniture and camping chairs, and creating a casual place to relax. We'll have two Farm Lounges ready for all weather! If it's hot, we'll have misters running to keep you cool. If it's drizzling, we'll have games there ready too!

Farm Fest is supposed to be fun. You shouldn’t have to stand the entire day to enjoy it.

Yes, We Ordered the Important Stuff Too

Not everything behind the scenes is pretty or exciting enough for a social media photo.

But it matters.

Last week, I ordered the portable toilets and handwashing stations for the event.

It’s one of those things most people never think about when attending a festival — which is exactly how it should be. My goal is for the practical pieces to simply be there and work the way they’re supposed to.

There are a lot of those little details behind an event. Things you may never notice, but that help the entire day run more smoothly.

The Farm Is Getting Its Summer Haircut

There has been a whole lot of mowing and weed whacking happening around here.

And there will be plenty more.

We’re working on getting the grounds ready, trimming areas, cleaning things up, and preparing the spaces where vendors, activities, food, and guests will be.

The hayfield was also cut this week, and the hay was put up for the goats. It seems we always cut hay on the hottest day of the year! And right before a summer storm, so we have to rush to get it put into the barn to keep it dry. Thankfully I had my daughters and my sister Leslie as helpers! If I were alone, I'd still be huffing hay bales into the barn!

That one makes me smile because it’s such a perfect example of what Farm Fest really is.

This isn’t a fairground that sits empty waiting for an event.

It’s a working farm.

The field that becomes part of the Farm Fest experience is also part of feeding our animals. Farm work and event prep overlap around here in the most literal way possible.

One day you’re putting up hay.

The next you’re figuring out where to put a giant Jenga game.

Speaking of Giant Games…

Our new oversized games arrived!

We now have giant Jenga, Connect 4, and cornhole ready to join the fun.

Those will be added to the other oversized games we already have, including large checkers, and yard Yahtzee.

I love the idea of having simple things scattered around that encourage people to stop and play.

No complicated instructions.

No schedule.

Just walk over and challenge someone to a game.

Kids can play. Adults can play. Friends can get overly competitive over giant wooden blocks.

That sounds like a good farm festival to me.

The Parking Signs Have Begun

I’ve also started preparing parking signs.

Parking is one of those things that can make or break the first impression of an event. Before you see a vendor booth, buy a meal, or hear the music, you have to figure out where you’re supposed to go.

So we’re working on signage and thinking through traffic flow, entrances, parking areas, and how to make arrival as smooth as possible.

Thankfully, we have a large hayfield parking area on high ground, and getting that space ready is part of this week’s work too.

This week I'll also be getting out the Farm Fest yard signs to keep everyone reminded about this Saturday!

Vendor Highlights, Vendor Highlights, and More Vendor Highlights

If you follow along on social media, you’ve probably noticed the vendor highlights rolling out.

I’ve spent a lot of time this week working on those, and there are still more to come.

This is one of my favorite parts of promoting Farm Fest because every vendor brings something different.

Handmade goods. Clothing. Herbal products. Jewelry. Food. Wellness services. Home décor. Sourdough. Woodwork. Fabric creations. And so much more.

Every highlight is a chance for you to meet one of the small businesses that will be joining us before you even arrive.

And behind every one of those posts is another small business owner preparing, making products, planning a display, packing bins, checking tents, and getting ready for the big day too.

Farm Fest is a huge group effort.

And Now… The Lists

We have officially entered the stage where there are lists for the lists.

I have separate to-do lists for:

• Vendor highlights

• Farm preparation

• Event setup

• Putting up tents

• Deliveries

• Tables and chairs

• Portable toilets and handwashing stations

• Signs

• Vendor areas

• Food areas

• Sitting areas

• Bringing products from the store back to the farm

• Setting up my own Calhoun Farmstead products

And I’m sure I’ll create several more lists before next Saturday.

One of the stranger parts of hosting Farm Fest is that I’m not only organizing the event — I also have to become a vendor at my own event.

That means products from the store need to come back to the farm. Displays need to be planned. Products need to be packed, transported, unloaded, and set up.

While coordinating everyone else.

That part always makes me laugh a little.

At some point during event week, I inevitably remember: “Oh right. I also need to set up my own stuff.”

What Happens This Coming Week?

This is when the farm really starts to transform.

Tents will begin going up.

Deliveries will arrive.

Tables and chairs will be placed.

Portable toilets and handwashing stations will be delivered.

Signs will go up.

Vendor spaces will be prepared.

Sitting areas will start taking shape.

The Farm Lounge will come together.

Games will be moved into place.

Products will come back from the store.

And little by little, the farm will turn into Farm Fest.

That transformation is one of my favorite parts.

For most of the year, this is simply our farm. There are goats to feed, grass to mow, hay to make, fences to check, products to make, and everyday work to do.

Then, for one special day, it becomes a gathering place.

A place for local makers.

A place for food.

A place for music.

A place to learn something new.

A place to sit with a friend.

A place to shop small.

A place to bring the family.

A place to slow down for a few hours and enjoy being here.

One Week to Go

There is still a lot to do.

A lot.

But this is the point where all the months of planning start becoming visible.

The tents that existed on a list begin showing up on the lawn.

The vendors we’ve been highlighting begin packing their products.

The empty spaces start turning into eating areas, vendor rows, activity spaces, and places to relax.

And suddenly, Farm Fest isn’t something that’s coming “sometime this summer.”

It’s next week.

We cannot wait to welcome you to the farm.

One week to go.

See you at Farm Fest.