WARDSBORO — The Friends of the Library have announced that this year's Gilfeather Turnip Festival on Saturday, Oct. 23, will be a much smaller event this year.
“While Vermont has been a haven for many of us during the pandemic, the spread of the delta variant and continued outbreaks in the state make large gatherings a concern,” the Friends said in a news release. “While this popular annual event is our primary fundraising activity, your safety comes first.”
Instead of the full festival, the Friends will hold a scaled-down community celebration on the library front lawn from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There will be no vendors and no soup, but turnips will be sold, as will turnip-themed baked goods.
The Friends will have cookbooks for sale as well as Gilfeather merchandise such as T-shirts, caps, aprons, cookbooks, and ornaments, as well as “the popular hand-knitted turnip hats for children and adults.”
The event will offer live music and activities for the kids.
Tickets are still available for the “Best Raffle Ever,” with a winner drawn at the event. The prize is a holiday-themed wall hanging designed and hand crafted by local resident Carol Steiner.
Turnip aficionados can also visit friendsofwardsborolibrary.org to purchase turnip-related merchandise, including seeds.