With the rich colors and crisp air, fall is often cited as the favorite season of many central New Yorkers. But there is more to autumn than the view and the weather.

It's harvest time, and that means there is a lot of work to be done at farms and wineries. But this weekend, an area winery and farm are teaming up to provide some fall fun for local families.

On Saturday and Sunday, King Ferry Winery will throw its Harvest Festival, and Bakers' Acres near Lansing holds its Apple Harvest Saturday afternoon. The open-house events have taken place annually for at least 10 years, offering a chance for regulars and new faces to get a taste of the local bounty.

“Things are picking up.” said King Ferry Winery co-owner Tacie Saltonstall of the grape harvest. “And this time of year is when everyone is out looking at the leaves change.”

At the winery, both days will feature various activities for children and adults. There will be free tours and tasting, and visitors will get to experience the crush and the winemaking process.

Cayuga Lake Creamery will serve ice cream, and there will also be live music from bands and a broadcast by WYXL 97.3 FM.

“There is a lot of stuff for everybody,” Saltonstall said.

Though the Apple Harvest is only a one-day event, it is loaded with activities and attractions. Apple picking, a petting zoo, wagon rides, clowns, food and plenty of cider are all scheduled at Bakers' Acres.

While this is a popular time of year to visit local wineries for a relaxing time, businesses like King Ferry Winery are in the middle of a lot of hard work. Saltonstall said they have already picked the chardonnay and Riesling grapes, and there are still more loads to come.

“We brought some in today. This is harvest time,” she said Monday.

Saltonstall said the winery and nursery have been planning their annual fall celebrations in conjunction with each other for four years. It is good for nearby businesses to team up, especially with so much tourist emphasis on the wineries between Cayuga and Seneca lakes, she said.

“It helps to promote business on our side of the lake,” Saltonstall said. “We want to get people to find us.”

Now all they need is for the nice weather to continue. A cool, crisp weekend with lots of sun would be the perfect setting for some fall fun, she said. So far, forecasts are calling for mostly sunny days with highs in the 60s.

“We would love the weather to hold, absolutely,” Saltonstall said. “The better the weather, the better the day.”

Christopher Caskey

253-5311 ext. 282

christopher.caskey@lee.net