Oct. 6-11: Harwood celebrates Homecoming Week & Harvest Fest
October 3, 2025 | By Claire Pomer | Correspondent
File photo by Gordon Miller
Next week at Harwood Union High School will be packed with special activities as the school celebrates its third annual Harvest Fest and Homecoming week.
From Monday to Friday, Oct. 6-10, each day will feature special events during and after school, including spirit activities, athletics and school traditions. At the end of the week on Saturday, the Harwood Boosters host an Alumni Social and fundraiser at The Big Picture in Waitsfield. Students, families, alumni, and community members are invited to join in celebrating Highlander pride.
For students, the celebration kicks off with a pep rally on Monday and the homecoming dance caps it off on Friday.
Homecoming week is a fall version of Spirit Week – a long-standing school tradition. “This is our continued work to give back to the community,” said Principal Megan McDonough. “We hope to continue to grow and continue to provide opportunities to give back to the community at large.”
Monday’s student pep rally will celebrate Harwood’s fall sports teams. After school, the varsity and junior varsity Girls Volleyball teams play Montpelier at home in the gym. JV plays at 4:30 p.m.; the varsity game is at 6 p.m.
Harwood Boosters will have concessions and Harwood gear for sale at all of the week’s home games this week.
On Tuesday, Harwood hosts its annual College Fair for students, with representatives from approximately 45 colleges and universities from around the country attending. Also that day, students have a schoolwide pumpkin-carving competition.
After school, the Varsity and Junior Varsity Girls Soccer teams take on Lake Region at home at 4 p.m. From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., a special party will be set up on the school’s front lawn. The Harwood Assembly Band will be playing tunes along with food stands and trucks from the Harwood Boosters, Woodbury Pizza, and Paprika Catering Company/Empanadas.
The event overlaps with the school’s fall Open House for students, parents/guardians, and family members, scheduled for 5:30-6:30 p.m. In addition to meeting their students’ teachers, parents and family members can learn more about programs at Harwood, such as the high school Cultural Exchange programs that involve student travel-study abroad, such as annual student trips to India, Rwanda and Denmark.
On Wednesday, the girls’ Field Hockey team hosts Milton at 4 p.m. for its Senior Night game.
Thursday marks the official Harvest Fest. In lieu of classes, students will undertake a day of service in the community at multiple locations. Middle schoolers will complete their service on campus and at Living Tree Alliance in Moretown. Freshmen and sophomores will volunteer for community tasks with Friends of the Mad River, Sugarbush, and Revitalizing Waterbury and the Waterbury Rotary Club. Juniors will complete their service in district schools, assisting with garden work, classroom support, and prepping for the Waitsfield Elementary Ski and Skate Sale.
Seniors leave early Thursday morning for their annual Mountain Day field trip to Mad River Glen, which will include some service projects, hiking, lawn games and a potluck.
Harvest Fest service will count towards a new high-school student service requirement for graduation. Service can be in the community or at school events such as Harvest Fest projects, staffing the concession stand during sporting events, or helping the Harwood Music Department with its citrus sale distribution. The requirement begins this year with 5 hours. Starting with the 2026-27 school year, it will be 10 annual service hours. (See a letter from Harwood Principal Meg McDonough with more details here.)
Friday is an in-service day for school staff. Students will not be at school, but Harvest Fest and homecoming festivities will continue. The Varsity and Junior Varsity Boys Soccer teams host Lamoille at 4 p.m. And the annual Homecoming Dance for students will be held in the school cafeteria and Kate’s Garden, 7-9 p.m.
On Saturday, Girls Volleyball hosts Missisquoi in the Harwood gym. Junior varsity plays at 11 a.m.; the varsity game is at 12:30 p.m.
Alumni invited back
Later on Saturday afternoon, the Harwood Boosters host an Alumni Social at The Big Picture theater in Waitsfield, from 2 to 5 p.m.
“The social is meant to encourage people to come back and to help support the Boosters and our co-curriculars,” McDonough said. “We reap what we sow, and we want to build pride in our community.”
Boosters President Sarah Callahan said Homecoming Week is an opportunity for the volunteer group to rally local fans to attend Harwood home sports events and to invite alumni to get together at the social.
Tickets for the social are $20 each, or two for $35. Callahan said alumni are encouraged to purchase them online in advance to help organizers plan for food. Tickets will also be available at the door, and the event will have a cash bar, she said. Proceeds from the social will support extracurricular and co-curricular events and activities, keeping with the Boosters’ mission, she noted.
And although the event is geared to alumni, current Harwood students will have a role to play as well: the Harwood Assembly Band is booked to provide the live music, and Harwood student-athletes will spend time in the kitchen to make the hors d’oeuvres.