When the weather starts getting cooler and football season kicks off, the Harvest Festival is right around the corner. The Milton Harvest Festival is a community tradition that stretches over a one-week span. In 1977, the Festival’s inaugural year, it was only a three-day event. Today, daily events are scheduled throughout the week

The tradition began as the Tomato Harvest Festival and was associated with Hector Boiardi and the Chef Boyardee plant in Milton. Mr. Boiardi (left) served as the event’s grand marshal in the 1978 parade.  Every year, people look forward to the Harvest Festival Parade, and every year they return.

The Arts and Crafts Events held on both Saturdays of the festival provide both current and former Milton residents the opportunity to visit friends they might not have seen since the previous year.

The Princess Pageant, which originated in 1977, provides scholarships and awards for young women in Milton. In 1982 a Little Miss Pageant was added, followed by the Junior Miss Pageant in 1999.

In 2002, the Betty Zechman Spirit Award was created and given to the Princess Pageant candidate who best exemplifies Betty’s spirit of enthusiasm and commitment. The winner is chosen by written vote of the contestants and their advisors, and is selected as the candidate who has most consistently demonstrated kindness, helpfulness, cheerfulness, and camaraderie during ALL Princess Pageant and Harvest Festival activities.