Labor Day weekend in Colorado means one thing for garden lovers—Windsor Harvest Festival is here! It’s a perfect chance to enjoy fresh local produce, beautiful flower displays, and fun activities for all ages.
I’ve gone in past years, and the energy and colors are truly unforgettable. From tasting seasonal treats to picking up gardening tips, there’s something for everyone.
Let’s make this weekend a celebration of all things harvest and garden!
1. Pumpkins
Nothing says fall quite like these orange beauties dotting the festival grounds. Colorado farmers bring their prize specimens, from tiny decorative varieties to massive carving pumpkins weighing over 100 pounds.
Look for cooking demonstrations that show how to transform them into more than just jack-o’-lanterns. Their sweet flesh makes delicious pies, soups, and roasted treats!
2. Apples
Crisp and juicy, these orchard treasures shine at the festival with varieties you won’t find at regular stores. Many Colorado orchards bring heritage varieties with fascinating backstories and unique flavor profiles.
Sample slices from each farm’s display to discover your favorite. Don’t miss the fresh-pressed cider stands where you can watch the whole pressing process!
3. Squash
From butternut to acorn, these versatile veggies come in fascinating shapes and colors. The Colorado growing season produces exceptionally flavorful squash due to the warm days and cool nights.
Festival vendors often provide recipe cards with each purchase. Try the roasted squash samples that showcase how their sweet, nutty flavors intensify when cooked!
4. Corn
Sweet corn season extends into early fall, making it a festival favorite. Colorado’s elevation and climate create the perfect growing conditions for exceptionally sweet and tender kernels.
Watch for the roasted corn stands where ears are grilled in their husks. The festival’s corn maze, created from field corn, offers a fun challenge for visitors of all ages!
5. Beets
These jewel-toned root vegetables shine at the festival with their vibrant colors. Colorado’s mineral-rich soil produces particularly sweet beets that local chefs eagerly seek out.
Look for unusual varieties like candy-striped Chioggia or golden beets alongside the familiar red ones. Many vendors offer samples of pickled beets that showcase their earthy-sweet flavor!
6. Carrots
Far beyond the ordinary orange, festival carrots come in purple, white, yellow, and red varieties. The cool Colorado nights toward harvest time increase their natural sweetness to candy-like levels.
Farmers often display them with tops attached to prove freshness. Don’t miss the carrot-tasting stations where you can compare flavors between different colored varieties!
7. Brussels Sprouts
These miniature cabbages often arrive at the festival still attached to their impressive stalks. Colorado’s first light frosts before the festival make them sweeter and more flavorful than summer-harvested ones.
Watch cooking demonstrations that transform these once-dreaded vegetables into crowd favorites. The roasted brussels sprout samples with maple glaze convert even the most skeptical visitors!
8. Potatoes
Colorado’s mountain valleys produce exceptional potatoes in surprising varieties. Beyond russets, you’ll find purple, red, and fingerling potatoes with different textures and flavors.
Festival vendors often share their favorite preparation methods for each type. Some Colorado farms specialize in rare heritage varieties that have been grown in the region for generations!
9. Onions
Sweet, red, white, and yellow – the festival showcases onions of all types and sizes. Colorado’s dry climate creates perfect conditions for growing flavorful, long-storing onions that local chefs prize.
Look for braided strings of storage onions that make practical souvenirs. The caramelized onion samples at cooking demonstrations reveal how these humble vegetables transform when properly prepared!
10. Kale
Cold-loving kale reaches peak flavor after light frosts, making it perfect for the festival. Colorado farmers bring several varieties including curly, lacinato (dinosaur), and red Russian kale for shoppers to compare.
Don’t miss the kale chip samples that show how this nutritional powerhouse becomes a crave-worthy snack. Many visitors are surprised by how sweet and tender fresh fall kale can be!
11. Cabbage
Massive heads of green, red, and savoy cabbage make impressive displays at the festival. Colorado’s cool nights help develop their sweet flavor while maintaining crisp texture.
Watch demonstrations of traditional fermentation techniques for making sauerkraut and kimchi. Local farmers often share their family recipes that have been passed down through generations in Colorado’s farming communities!
12. Garlic
Though harvested earlier, cured garlic is a festival highlight with varieties ranging from mild to fiery. Colorado’s high-altitude garlic is known for its intense flavor and exceptional storage quality.
Look for beautiful braided garlic ropes that serve as both decoration and pantry staple. Some Colorado farmers specialize in rare heritage varieties with purple-streaked cloves and unique flavor profiles!
13. Cauliflower
Beyond basic white, the festival showcases purple, orange, and green cauliflower varieties. Colorado’s sunny days and cool nights create perfect growing conditions for these colorful cruciferous vegetables.
Sample roasted cauliflower florets that highlight their nutty flavor when cooked. Many visitors are surprised to learn the different colors offer slightly different flavor profiles and nutritional benefits!
14. Peppers
From sweet bells to fiery chilies, the pepper displays offer a rainbow of options. Colorado’s hot days and cool nights create ideal conditions for developing complex pepper flavors.
Don’t miss the heat-level testing stations where brave visitors can sample progressively spicier varieties. Local sauce makers often demonstrate how to transform these colorful fruits into delicious salsas and hot sauces!
15. Leeks
These elegant alliums stand tall at the festival, their blue-green tops contrasting with white stalks. Colorado’s clean mountain water produces exceptionally sweet, tender leeks that chefs eagerly seek out.
Cooking demonstrations show how to properly clean and prepare these layered vegetables. Their mild, buttery flavor makes them perfect for soups and roasted dishes as the weather turns cooler!