The Best Harvest Festival in Every State

Celebrate all things pumpkins and apples at these food-fueled harvest festivals. Hello, fall!

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MONTREAL, CANADA - AUGUST 01: More than 40 food trucks on the esplanade Financiere Sun Life for the event first friday of the month on august 01 in Montreal, Canada. ; Shutterstock ID 208819690
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Alabama

Boaz October Harvest Festival, Boaz

The Boaz October Harvest Festival celebrates all things autumn against a backdrop of food vendors and antique cars in historic downtown Boaz. Don’t miss the annual MoonPie-eating contest.

Get more information.

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Reindeer head portrait with tongue
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Alaska

Fall Family Fun, Palmer

The Last Frontier’s most iconic animal (reindeer!) is in the spotlight each year at the Reindeer Farm’s fall fest. Festivities include a hay bale maze and potato launching. Pick a pumpkin right out of the patch, too.

Get more information.

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Pumpkin patch
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Arizona

The Arizona Harvest Fest & Open Air Market, Chandler

Each year, this Phoenix ‘burb hosts a bustling farmers market at its fall fest, but you’ll also find a pie-eating contest (Inspired to bake a pie? Here are 50 pie recipes.), vendors selling products for home cooks, and a cakewalk, too.

Get more information.

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Antique Siphons like Stained Glass in Flea Market
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Arkansas

Fall Festival Tradin’ Days, Van Buren

Cute and quaint Van Buren hosts its annual fall fest on Historic Main Street, with antique vendors, a flea market and live music complementing local foods for sale. Be sure not to miss these commonly overlooked thrift store items that are worth tons of cash.

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Bug on lemon in tree
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California

Lemon Festival, Goleta

Love lemons? Then you’ll want to head to Goleta for the California Lemon Festival, with lemon pie and locally brewed lemonade for sale. For lemon lovers who aren’t local to the area, don’t miss these irresistible lemon desserts.

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Close up of a cork wine with different variation of wine color
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Colorado

Mountain Harvest Festival, Paonia

From free farm and winery tours to music by Western Slope artists—and even a vegan potluck—this delightful small town puts on a big show for its Mountain Harvest Festival.

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Garlic
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Connecticut

Connecticut Garlic & Harvest Festival, Bethlehem

Learning to cook with garlic and buying bulbs from food vendors are just two activities at the annual Connecticut Garlic & Harvest Festival. A garlic-infused food court includes garlic ice cream and other delicacies. (Psst! Attention, all garlic lovers: We’ve got the best recipes for you.)

Get more information, here.

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A crowd of people buy meals from food trucks lined up in Grant Park at the Food-o-rama festival
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Delaware

Harvest Moon Festival, Greenville

Coverdale Farm Preserve and the Delaware Nature Society celebrate sustainability at the annual Harvest Moon Festival, rounded out with food trucks selling autumn-ripe cuisine and pumpkin patches to explore.

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Happy boy eating corn on the cob
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Florida

Harvest Fest, Ocala

Apple butter, grilled ears of corn and other fall foods join live music (on two stages) at Harvest Fest in downtown Ocala. Get in the mood for fall with our best dinners, sides, dessert and more to celebrate the season.

Get more information.

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Georgia

Fall Fest, Dallas

High Country goes haute with a mix of performing artists, bluegrass and DJs joining local food and craft vendors at this fall festival, sponsored by the Paulding Fine Arts Association.

Get more information.

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Coffee farmer hands holding freshly picked red ripen arabica coffee berries cherries and pouring them into bamboo basket at coffee plantation
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Hawaii

Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, Kona District, Hawaii

The fall means coffee harvest along the west coast of the Big Island. Farm tours, art exhibits, barista demonstrations and a coffee farmers marketplace are just a few of the activities each year at this festival. Psst! Did you know Taste of Home has its own line of coffee? Try our signature roasts.

Get more information.

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Wild foxglove growing in high mountain meadow in Idaho
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Idaho

Fall Harvest Festival, Boise

Check out stunning flowers and sample fall foods at the same time at Fall Harvest Festival, hosted at the Idaho Botanical Garden. From an abundance of fall produce, you can choose your own pumpkin to take home from the upper vegetable garden.

Get more information.

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dfh17sep038_160161059_01-1200x1200 compost pile dirt garden egg shells lettuce soil fertilizer
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Illinois

Harvest Day, Chicago

This one-day festival at Garfield Park Conservatory on Chicago’s West Side features tastings of Chicago-made honey, tips on harvesting organic fruits and vegetables, and lessons on composting.

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La Cocina's San Francisco Street Food Festival.
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Indiana

Nut Club Fall Festival, Evansville

One of the country’s largest street festivals, Nut Club Fall Festival typically features 120-some food booths. In years past, offerings have included street food delicacies like apple cider slushies, deep-fried Nutella turnovers and Pronto Pups.

Get more information.

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Two Mennonite girls take water to the hay crew
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Iowa

Kalona Fall Festival, Kalona

Immerse yourself in this Mennonite community’s annual Kalona Fall Festival. Food served at the fest includes apple fritters (see our copycat recipe here), biscuits and gravy, and ice cream.

Get more information.

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Fresh green Spinach at the farmers market; Shutterstock ID 438669850; Job (TFH, TOH, RD, BNB, CWM, CM): TOH
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Kansas

Spinach Festival, Lenexa

Once considered the world capital for these leafy greens, Lenexa still celebrates that crown, with festival activities like constructing the world’s largest spinach salad as well as cooking demos. Do your spinach dishes need a makeover? Consult these recipes.

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Pig race at the fair
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Kentucky

Trigg County Country Ham Festival, Cadiz

OK, so we know ham doesn’t quite fit the bill of fresh fall produce, but we couldn’t help but mentioning this down-home country fest. Each year, partygoers flock to the event for carnival rides, pig racing, and slice after slice of Trigg County country ham. Mmm...ham.

Get more information.

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Pecan nuts on a wooden table
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Louisiana

Louisiana Pecan Festival, Colfax

Locally harvested pecans are in the spotlight during this festival, which annually crowns a Pecan Queen. Even if you’re not in the pecan royal family, you can still taste and buy pecans in the country store or pecan house.

Get more information.

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Slice of mouth watering rustic apple pie
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Maine

Maine Harvest Festival, Bangor

This indoor festival focuses on small producers and their harvest bounty, from apples to potatoes. Past events have included a two-crusted apple-pie baking contest. Yum!

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German beer stein glasses cheers
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Maryland

Hops & Harvest Festival, Columbia

Brewing beer is huge in Maryland, and the annual Hops & Harvest Festival celebrates just that. Regional bacon, BBQ, crepes and food from local creameries are also featured in this boozy foodie event.

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Cranberry with leaves. Red background.
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Massachusetts

Cranberry Harvest Celebration, Plymouth

Cranberry production in Massachusetts is as linked to the state’s history as whaling and crabbing are. Tour a cranberry bog at the Cranberry Harvest Celebration and see how cranberries are harvested. Inspired to bake with cranberries? Browse these ideas.

Get more information.

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Crates of Michigan apples
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Michigan

Harvest & Wine Festival, New Buffalo

Along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, craft beer, ciders and wines thrive. Learn how to pair these with local treats like caramel apples (check out this recipe), Amish-made cheeses, and locally made honey and jams at the festival.

Get more information.

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Corn Field
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Minnesota

Twin Cities Harvest Festival, Brooklyn Park

Minnesota’s largest corn maze and a corn pit (filled with corn kernels) are stars of the Twin Cities Harvest Festival in the ‘burb of Brooklyn Park. Chow down on caramel apples and apple cider, too.

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Close up of ripe cotton ball in field
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Mississippi

Harvest Festival, Jackson

For history and agriculture fans, this fest features live historic demos of some of Mississippi’s most lucrative industries, including sugar cane and cotton, while the General Store will sell snacks with local roots. The Harvest Festival is hosted at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum.

Get more information.

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Fresh produce on sale at the local farmers market
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Missouri

Harvest Festival, St. Louis

This city along the Mississippi River is home to Harvest Festival at Laumeier Sculpture Park, organized by local food magazine Sauce. A farmers market, restaurants and bakers make sure you don’t leave hungry.

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Burgers artfully presented on boards
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Montana

Kootenai Harvest Fest, Libby

Farm-to-fork is a large focus of this harvest celebration, including grass-fed beef burgers (learn some tricks on making perfect burgers) and loads of other seasonal foods sold by vendors.

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Fresh corn on cobs on rustic wooden table
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Nebraska

The Plattsmouth Harvest Festival, Plattsmouth

Corn is this region’s most-loved product, and that’s just one of the items you can eat at the Plattsmouth Harvest Festival. Love corn? Enter the fest’s famed corn-eating contest.

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Ring toss carnival, fair game using coca cola bottles.
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Nevada

Fall Festival, Pahrump

Carnival rides and the rodeo are big draws, but foodies will want to head to the Fall Festival at Pahrump, just a little more than an hour west of Vegas, for the barbecue. The event is sponsored by the local chamber of commerce.

Get more information.

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Close up of a sliced red apple on a wooden table.
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New Hampshire

Apple Harvest Day, Dover

Since 1985, this small New Hampshire city has hosted Apple Harvest Day, with 400-some crafters and bakers selling items either inspired by or made with apples.

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organic produce on sale at outdoor farmers market
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New Jersey

Hopewell Harvest Fair, Hopewell

Think of Hopewell Harvest Fair as one big farmers market, linking growers and consumers while offering fun activities like baking and homegrown-vegetable contests.

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Donkeys
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New Mexico

Harvest Festival at El Rancho de las Golondrinas, Santa Fe

Kick-off fall at this Spanish-influenced fest. The event takes place at a 200-acre living history farm with original colonial buildings still standing. Apart from history, you and your family can enjoy pumpkin picking, cooking demonstrations (read: homemade tortillas) and mule-drawn wagons. End your day with hot chocolate and biscochitos, or make your own at home.

Get more information.

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apple cider in plastic jugs with apples in produce boxes at the farmers market
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New York

Saratoga Harvest Fest, Saratoga Springs

Each autumn, New Yorkers flock to the Saratoga Harvest Fest. You won’t leave thirsty, thanks to locally pressed apple cider and other drinks with local connections. Here’s what to do with extra apple cider.

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Butter pecan ice cream
Taste of Home

North Carolina

North Carolina Pecan Harvest Festival, Whiteville

Every year in early November, North Carolina goes nuts over pecans—and this festival celebrates the state’s annual pecan harvest. If you don’t enjoy eating the nuts plain, there will be plenty of pecan ice cream and pecan pies to go around. Try our best pecan pie recipes while you’re at it.

Get more information.

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Potatoes
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North Dakota

Potato Bowl USA, Grand Forks

A huge sector of North Dakota’s agriculture is potatoes. At Potato Bowl USA, there are potato-eating contests, baked potato bars and more. Over four tons of french fries were served in 2017! Speaking of fries: Here’s how to make crispy french fries in your oven.

Get more information.

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Pumpkin pie
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Ohio

Fall Fun Days, Grove City

What better place to celebrate harvest than on a farm? Circle S Farms Fall Fun Days typically run the entire month of October. Enjoy apple cider, yummy baked treats and a fresh-picked pumpkin from the gigantic patch.

Get more information.

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Beautiful young woman with three huge different pumpkins on a farm or patch.
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Oklahoma

Pumpkin Festival, Cogar

Hosted at Old Oak Farms, the annual Pumpkin Festival focuses on, naturally, pumpkins growing on the property but also features food prepared by local vendors. Snag a sugar pumpkin and make these recipes.

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Young couple with beer at summer music festival
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Oregon

Hood River Valley Harvest Fest, Hood River

Jam out at Hood River Valley Harvest Fest. The event is both a music festival and a farmers market, where food vendors sell Hood River favorites such as smoked salmon, apples and pears. Yum!

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Apple & Cheese Festival, Canton

Apples and cheese are two beloved products of upstate Pennsylvania; they come together at this annual event, held at the Manley-Bohlayer Farm. The combination is clearly delicious.

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The view of Newport city and the old harbour (Rhode Island).
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Rhode Island

Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival, Newport

Seafood is abundant in Rhode Island, and this festival has a wide variety including clam chowder, lobster rolls, stuffed quahogs and fish tacos. Colorful tents and live music make this a treat for eyes and ears, too. Add it as a stop to your East Coast foodie road trip.

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Scenes from The 24th Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
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South Carolina

North Charleston Harvest Festival, North Charleston

This block party and street festival typically features a pop-up pumpkin patch as well as food vendors serving delish plates with autumnal ingredients. There are costume contests for adults, children and pets, and street-wide trick-or-treating for the kids.

Get more information.

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Young boy eating an apple
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South Dakota

Harvest Festival, near Sioux Falls

Hosted by Country Apple, the Harvest Festival includes giant pumpkins to marvel at and pick-your-own apples, caramel apples, apple brats and apple pies to buy. Psst! Learn why you should never shake an apple tree.

Get more information.

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A bowl of Apple Dumpling Bake with melting vanilla ice cream
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Tennessee

Unicoi County Apple Festival, Erwin

Shining a spotlight on the region’s apple harvest, this festival marks 42 years in 2019. Here, you’ll find food courts starring—you guessed it—apples. Our fav pick? Homemade apple butter.

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Cooked rice in pot with wood spoon
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Texas

Texas Rice Festival, Winnie

Texas’ claim to fame as a rice capital is proudly defended at the Texas Rice Festival, featuring a rice-cooking contest and other events celebrating the rice harvest. Ease into fall with these amazing ways to love whole grains.

Get more information.

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Various pumpkins and gourds
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Utah

Harvest Festival, Lehi

With weigh-offs to find the largest pumpkin—as well as gourds, watermelons and tomatoes—there are lots of interactive activities at this harvest festival on the main plaza of the Thanksgiving Point Institute’s educational grounds.

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Jugs of Vermont maple syrup stand for sale at a farmer's market on Union Square
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Vermont

Harvest Festival, Shelburne

Shelburne Farms’ Harvest Festival features farm-fresh food grown on-site (including Vermont maple products) along with kid-friendly entertainment and live music.

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Fresh herbs on the wooden background
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Virginia

Heritage Harvest Festival, Charlottesville

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is a hotbed of history, including American agriculture. Bring your gang to the Heritage Harvest Festival and partake in workshops covering culinary topics such as sushi and the spices of Appalachia.

Get more information.

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cranberries
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Washington

Cranberrian Fair, Ilwaco

Washington is a large source of berries—cranberries included. The Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum hosts this local fair to celebrate this tiny red fruit. The fest features cranberry bog tours and cranberry crafts, and the sky’s the limit when it comes to cranberry desserts. (Here’s our favorite!)

Get more information.

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West Virginia

Clay County Golden Delicious Festival, Clay

Celebrate West Virginia’s crop of apples at this namesake festival. The fest is said to be held on the site of the first Golden Delicious apple tree. An apple pie eating contest is one of the festival’s big events—gear up for the competition with these recipes.

Get more information.

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Horse dressed as a unicorn with the horn. Ideas for photoshoot. Wedding. Party. Outdoor; Shutterstock ID 684581434
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Wisconsin

Fall Heritage Festival, Mount Horeb

This small town just west of Madison celebrates its Norwegian heritage at its annual Fall Heritage Festival. Arts and crafts vendors set up along Mount Horeb’s Trollway, aka Main Street, which is lined with life-size troll carvings. A full Norwegian-style breakfast is another highlight.

Get more information.

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John Wayne Cowboy Ride Him
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Wyoming

Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, Jackson Hole

Don’t let the festival name fool you: There’s food here, too, that’s inspired by the state’s cowboy traditions and heightened by Jackson Hole’s vibrant food scene. Want more Wyoming? Try a favorite state dessert.

Get more information.

Emma B. Kumer
Emma interned for Taste of Home in 2017 and then continued freelancing there during college. Post college, she worked with Reader’s Digest as a digital visual assistant full time before becoming a motion designer at The Washington Post. There, she continues honing her craft of digital storytelling on social media platforms. She’s also been a tutorial writer for Adobe and a freelance music video animator. Outside of work, Emma loves running marathons, attending concerts and creative writing.