MONROE — Happy Harvest Fest 2023, an annual autumn event, will be held Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Heidi’s Happy Acres, W4341 Montgomery Road.

Brian and Heidi Kent and their children — Lucy, Eily and Declan — own Heidi’s Happy Acres, a third generation family run organization located 5 miles east of Monroe. It has also helped raise money for many causes in the county.

“Each year we dedicate our picking season and a portion of our proceeds to a cause,” Heidi Kent said. 

The festival’s ‘Pickin’ for a Cause’ recipient this year is Green County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). Kona Ice will be on site as well, and is donating 20% of its profits day of to ‘Pickin’ for a Cause’, and Knights of Columbus will be donating 15% as well.

Last year the event brought in roughly 2,000 people.

Heidi said they held a glow stick corn maze on Sept. 22-23, and, because of a good turnout, plan on doing it again Sept. 29-30. 

“I’m hoping after the festival we add in some haunted acres weekends, depends how time goes,” she said.

She said her farm has expanded the Happy Harvest land up into the adjacent field from her home’s yard. “It should be better and flow nice with the extra space,” she said.

The annual event will also features dozens of local vendors, a petting zoo, food and coffee stand, a kids’ zone area with games and inflatables — along with a vast selection of pumpkins, mums, gourds, ornamental corn, wild violet sweet corn and more. There is a small entry fee for the Kids Zone area of the festival.

We also added a pick your own patch of pumpkins with 16 different varieties.

Farm fresh eggs and squash also are available at the farm. Fire trucks and emergency vehicles also will be on site, and other fun things for kids to do and see.

For more information and to stay up-to-date on other activities, follow Heidi’s Happy Acres on Facebook.