Portage residents and Region vendors came out rain or shine for the City of Portage’s third annual Harvest Festival at Founders Square on October 2.
As an extension of the regularly hosted summer farmer’s markets at Founders Square, the Harvest Festival kicks off fall festivities for Portage. Many vendors, both local and out of town, gather to share their goods and services with Region residents.
Jaclyn Sandilla, owner of Jaclyn’s Unique Designs, featured her new business at this year’s Harvest Festival. Her booth brought in many customers who were excited to see customized items like tumblers, t-shirts, keychains, and more.
Sandilla, who is from Hobart, has been participating in the Portage markets for years. Previously, she sold Scentsy materials and is now excited to offer her own products at the Harvest Festival.
“Coming to these markets, I wanted to get my name out there and share the things that I make,” said Sandilla. “I like the joy that I have making these items for everybody else. I love when people walk in and their eyes light up.”
The Harvest Festival and previous Portage markets offered Sandilla and many other local business owners just the place to connect with the community.
“This helps everybody get out,” said Sandilla. “We're still kind of facing the pandemic, but everybody's able to get out and do things with more than just one or two people. You can come out and you can still enjoy life, the atmosphere, and be able to talk and interact with people again. This event helps everybody become normal again.”
Porsha Butler echoed Sandilla’s emphasis on community connection. Butler attended the event with her mother to assist with selling BT’s Homemade Treats. Butler and her mother returned to the Harvest Festival this year to make connections with other vendors and customers.
“What brings us here is the community,” said Butler. “We're reaching out to the community, not just by selling, but also by making great impacts with others and meeting other networking people.”
Events like the Harvest Festival allow small businesses to connect with clients, but small businesses also have the opportunity to meet other vendors to collaborate with.
“We also meet up with other sources who host different vending events. They give us an opportunity to be a part of those other events as well,” said Butler. “Events like these bring people together: not just within the Porter region, but all over Northwest Indiana. You’re meeting new people, friends, and also building business connections.”
Julie Beiswanger, Independent Distributor of Mia Bella’s clean burning natural wax candles, is a Portage graduate who is glad to be back in the community and sharing her business with the community. Being a vendor at Portage markets allows Beiswanger to connect with customers and other business owners.
“These events are really great for people to come out and see the different products that we have to offer,” said Beiswanger. “I've met a lot of great people that are now customers, I've got new people who wanted to join. I've got fundraisers. Even today, I've talked to people about fundraising.”
Having the opportunity to support small businesses is one of the City of Portage’s priorities. Amy Armstrong, program and events coordinator for the City of Portage, is happy to be able to offer opportunities for local businesses to get back on their feet after a difficult year and a half of a pandemic.
“A lot of our small businesses have really been hurting since the pandemic has been going on,” said Armstrong. “That's why I'm really pushing to have more things down at Founders Square. For example, nonprofits, like Kiwanis, were here tonight. We also have H-Life, a business for cancer awareness that was here tonight. Many business owners suffered tremendously during the pandemic, so anything to help out small businesses.”
The City of Portage is excited to offer more fall events within the next couple of weeks. The Annual Haunted Hayride will take place October 21-23 at Woodland Park from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $3 per ride. Portage Event Partnership will also be hosting Light Up the Gourds! October 29-30 at Imagination Glen East. Tickets will be $5 per ride to view the light up pumpkin trail.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/cityofportage/events to keep up on family friendly events in the City of Portage.