History of the Harvest Fair

Ken Joswiak

The event that is now called the “Harvest Fair”   was first held  as a “Christmas Carnival” on December 12, 1981.   Cloudy weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of the 500 people who attended.  The groundwork had been laid for the event that we have today.

The next year, 1982, the date was changed to November 2 to take advantage of better weather.  The name was also changed to “Harvest Festival”.  Arts and crafts booths  were added.  Entertainment was provided by the ARK Band, the Eddie Spaghetti Band and Tim Wallace, Magician.   San Bernardino Mayor Bob Holcomb was on hand to extend a greeting to the crowd of 800 people.

The year 1986 saw a  change in  the name to “HARVEST FAIR”.  The reason for the change was due to conflict of names with another Harvest Festival.  The week after the Harvest Fair, The Sun proclaimed, “All’s Harvest Fair when Mayor Evlyn is Jailed”.  It described how Mayor Evlyn Wilcox was thrown into the Harvest Fair Jail.

The Harvest Fair was  expanded to two days in 1988,  Saturday and Sunday.  Radio Station KNTF joined the Harvest Fair Team as a co-sponsor with a live broadcast on Saturday.  D.J.s Doug Vincent, Jim Nelson, and Joe Lyons added the modern country flavor of Hank Williams, Jr. and friends.  Attendance at this first two day event was 2600.   Some of the Entertainers included The Little Mountain Band, The High Mountain Gunfighters, The Big County Chordsmen Barbershop Quartet, Conder Seasholtz, Guitarist, and Bluegrass Music with Gilbert Anthony and “Mad Mike” on the Banjo.

In 1989, approximately 2500 people strolled the Old Harvest Fair Farm.  Larger than-life Harvest murals, signs, and other decorations were added to the event.

The first year of the new decade, 1990,  literally blew in.  Sixty mile an hour winds came roaring down from the Cajon Pass to greet the crowd on Saturday, the first day of the Harvest Fair.  However, we prevailed through a sandblasting the likes of which had not  been seen in San Bernardino for several years.  Due to the high wind conditions, the craft vendors were moved inside, The Tumbleweed Stage was closed down, the entertainment schedule quickly changed, and the show went on!  The Western Union band and  the Sweet Adelines performed in spite of the gusty weather.   On Sunday, the weather was beautiful.  Blue skies, sunshine and warm weather was abundant.   A variety of other performers, including The Widowmakers, Bluegrass Amigos and Folklorico Lindo made the day most enjoyable. 

Beautiful autumn blue skies and sunshine greeted the Harvest Fair in 1991.  The one comment that everyone made was that they were glad that the wind wasn’t blowing like it was last year, in 1990.  T-shirts were sold that proudly displayed the words, “I survived the Harvest Fair Blowout of 1990.”  Some of the Entertainment at the 11th Annual Harvest Fair included The Western Union Band , Prairie Sunset, the Big Country Chordsmen, Terry Palmer & Jerry Smith singing country music, Takken and Folklorico De San Bernardino.

The year 1992 saw the Old West  REALLY come alive at the Harvest Fair, as barnwood buildings,  a log cabin and  the OK Corral Saloon, the Barn Stage, the Tumbleweed stage  and other ‘down on the farm”additions were added to this annual event.  A new Jail was built, made from real wood, replacing the old cardboard  jail.  One  of the buildings was even hauled in from Colorado, over  Lizard Head Pass, high in the Rockies.  Radio station OJ 92.7 did a live broadcast from the Harvest Fair. 

In 1993,   a total of 3600 people attended the Harvest Fair.  The Western Union Band returned to the Tumbleweed Stage.  Terry Palmer continued to play at the Barn Stage. Other entertainers included  the Boomtown Gunfighters, and many of the favorites from past years.  The Brandin’ Iron was welcomed as a new sponsor.   Additional buildings  added even more Old West flavor to the Harvest Fair.  As the decade marched on, 1994  had more surprises.    The Buckskin BBQ,  Dr. Stroud’s Drugstore, and other Old West buildings kept adding  to the Old West town that was  growing in the San Bernardino Valley at the Harvest Fair. 

The Harvest Fair was bustin’ out with the highest attendance to date in  1995.  Over 4600 people came down to the ol’ ranch   It was called the best  Harvest Fair of all.   More Old West buildings were added.  The Rocky Mountain Trading Post and   the Telegraph Office,  were built.    Darlene O’Connell and the Dixie Flyers played Hot Country Music  both days.    Many other entertainers also performed.   Radio Stations K-FROG and OJ 92.7 did live broadcasts.  

1996 saw the Harvest Fair continue its authentic re-creation of the Old West. Approximately 4200 people attended despite the 15 minute windstorm that “blew like hay” on Saturday afternoon.    The Harvest Fair expanded to two weekends in 1999.  Entertainment included Fit 2-B Tied, Kevin Cameron and  the Pale Riders, the Smokey Mt. Express Cloggers, Tour d’ Fource, Barbershop Quartet, Thunder Road, Madison Walker as Nat Love, and El Grupo Folklorico de Escargea,  and Mariachi Estudiantina de Inland Empire.  Approximately 7600 people attended.    

The very popular Chili Cook Off  was held for the first time  in 1997.  Approximately 20 Chili Cooks   cooked up a storm to tantalize the taste buds of those attending the Harvest Fair.   It provided a complement to the Antique Car Show which the Paradise Valley Model A Ford Club has organized for a number of years.

The 20^th Annual Harvest Fair in 2000 saw more Old West groups involved.  Pistols n’ Petticoats and the Cross Creek Cowboys began performing historical re-enactments of the 1880’s.  Gary Lemos and Sarah Thomson demonstrated Native American flute music.

The popular Veteran’s Day Parade and Ceremony began  in 2001, at the 21^st Annual event.

In  2002, the 22^nd Annual Harvest Fair had the first Harvest Fair wedding. Jack Yukhouse and Kathie Roberts were married in a driving rainstorm  on Saturday Nov. 11.   They say that rain is good luck for a wedding.  Well, then they had plenty of good luck!  That did not dampen the spirits of many friends and relatives that celebrated with them.  Pistols’ n’ Petticoats made it a real shotgun wedding with an Old West flair.   Border Renegades also provided Old West entertainment that year.   Friends of the Renaissance Faire decided to time travel to the 1880’s and  became part of the Harvest Fair family. Jack’s Posse and Law Dogs n’ Ladies began  Old West performances this year. 

The rain of 2002 was followed by devastating    fires in the San Bernardino area in 2003.   The fires raged for a week before the Harvest Fair.  It was not certain whether the Harvest Fair would be held.   But, the night before opening weekend,  welcome rain doused the  Old Fire, as it was called. The Harvest Fair  was held for two weekends again.   Folklorico Cultural, Desert Guns and Folklorico Orgullo Mestizo  were some of the entertainers. 

The 24^th Annual Harvest Fair saw another wedding. Jack Watson and Fran Wyman were married on Sunday Nov. 14.   More cowboy camps than ever were set up as the Harvest Fair reputation as a nationally known  living history event grew.   

In 2005, the Harvest Fair was recognized as one of the top Western Events in America by Amercian Cowboy magazine!  The Harvest Fair was included in the May-June issue listing the “101 Best Cowboy Gatherings.”  It was described as  a “can’t miss western event.”  And one of the “best western fairs and festivals.”    The Harvest Fair was one of only a few events in California listed.   The Harvest Fair celebrates its Silver Anniversary  in 2005 with its 25^th annual production.     

Over the years, the Harvest Fair has grown so that it really is like “...taking a  trip back to the Old West!” Old West style barnwood buildings,   wagon wheels, a covered wagon,   bales of hay, cornstalks, pumpkins, cowboys, cowgirls, dance hall ladies, lawmen, school marms’,  shopkeepers, Native Americans, and more all await you at this year’s Harvest Fair.  They will give you the feeling of stepping back in time.     As the land office agents said in the 1800’s,  “ Hurry! Rush! Don’t wait for anything!”  Git your boots on, dust off yer hat and get on down to the Harvest Fair!