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    Sunday, November 03, 2024

    New London Harvest Festival brings community together with family fun

    Coachwoman Davinia Saglio, with Allegra Farm, of East Haddam, gives people a ride in a wagonette pulled by a Clydesdale, left, and percheron, right, draft horses during the Harvest Festival at the historic Old Town Mill in New London Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (Dana Jensen/The Day)draught horse
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    Lanai Franke, 4, of of New London, paints a pumpkin at the Calvary Chapel’s booth during the Harvest Festival at the historic Old Town Mill in New London Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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    Volunteer Arielle Lozarda-Reyes,13, talks with Julieta Moreira Reyes talks with Julieta Moreira Reyes, of Uruguaya, a student at Connecticut College, while Gracelyn Rogers, 4, of Griswold, looks out the window while next to the grinder in the Old Town Mill, used to grind corn cobs for the winter, during the Harvest Festival at the historic Old Town Mill in New London Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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    People spend time at the Harvest Festival at the historic Old Town Mill in New London Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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    New London — The City of New London hosted its 13th annual Old Town Mill Harvest Festival Saturday afternoon, with free food, music and fun.

    Around 500 people attended the festival throughout the day. Children comprised most of the festival’s attendance, enjoying face paintings, pumpkin paintings and apple cider drinks and donuts.

    The fall weather was warmly met with enthusiasm from community residents, who enjoyed live entertainment, including an acoustic rendition of Sweet Caroline from a local New London artist. Two sets of majestic horses traversed Winthrop Street, carrying wagons holding kids and their parents.

    “This is kind of like a throwback of … what it was like to be in New London in 1650,” said Yamilla Mateo, the city’s neighborhood coordinator who began her post earlier this year.

    This year’s festival is the first planned by Mateo, who was born and raised in New London.

    Maria Cortorreal, a social worker at Regional Multicultural Magnet School and program coordinator for New London Youth Affairs, moved to the city two years ago from New York. Since moving here Cortorreal has valued the sense of community and family she says New London has provided.

    “People are really connected,” she said. “I love the environment and the feeling of community and family.”

    Several vendors hosted tents with information pamphlets and free merchandise. The local Salvation Army provided hot dogs, chips and beverages at no cost to attendees.

    New London Trees, a local non-profit aiming to increase New London’s tree population, provided free seeds at the festival.

    Anne Marie Perry, 82, moved to New London three years ago from Branford. Perry, who volunteers with the organization, appreciates the city’s commitment to community engagement.

    “I'm very happy here. It's very friendly. There's a lot of things going on and a lot of opportunities to be helpful with all the different organizations,” Perry said.

    The Old Town Mill, a historic landmark, is among New London’s oldest structures. Built by John Winthrop Jr., the founder of New London who later became the governor of Connecticut, the mill is one of the older industrial sites in the state.

    This summer, the city announced plans to construct a 1,000-foot-long asphalt pedestrian and biking path connecting local park areas. The planned Briggs Brook Park will run from the Old Town Mill to the intersection of Crystal Avenue and State Pier Road.

    “I find it really beautiful that you get to meet new people,” said Mateo. “(The festival) brings people together and really embraces the diversity of New London.”

    t.wright@theday.com

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