Late Harvest Festival

Crunchy leaves. Spiced cider. Chunky sweaters. Pumpkin everything. Calico is celebrating the changing of the seasons with a Late Harvest Festival. The urban backyard in Blagden Alley is welcoming the cooler weather with a free-to-attend Sunday afternoon fall fest complete with pumpkin carving, oyster grilling, candied apples, a mini farmer’s market, hot cocktails, autumnal fare and more festive seasonal fun. Guests can peruse the seasonal produce from local farms at a mini farmer’s market, picking up fall fruits and veggies to enjoy at home. The market will feature peak-season treats such as Asian Pears (Mountain View Orchards, VA), Honeycrisp Apples (Bear Mountain Orchards, PA), Broccoli and Cauliflower (Fifer Orchards, DE), Delicata Squash (Stauffer Huling Farm, PA), and Apple Cider (McCutcheon’s in Frederick MD). And DC-based, woman-owned urban gardener Love & Carrotswill be selling a variety of edible plants to take home. And there’s no need to head out of the city to visit the pumpkin patch this year. Guests can pick their very own pumpkins from Calico’s pop-up patch and decorate them at a decked-out carving station. The scents of freshly-popped corn will waft from a popcorn machine and its seasoning bar, and just-picked apples will be hand-dipped in sweet, buttery caramel. The fall fest will serve as the official roll-out of Calico’s new seasonal menu, featuring autumnal cookout fare from Chef Nathan Beauchamp, such as mugs of lamb chili and vegetarian black bean chipotle chili. Chef Beauchamp will also be grilling up local Chesapeake oysters throughout the afternoon. Seasonal libations will range from hot drinks from bar director Ian Fletcher such as mulled wine and rum-spiked cider, plus bourbon mules and apple Manhattans, local cider from ANXO, fall cocktails from Jeff Coles, co-owner of K Street speakeasy The Mirror, apple spice kombucha from Wild Kombucha, pumpkin and Oktoberfest beers and more. Rounding out the lively festivities will be a festive photo booth complete with hay and gourds for the perfect Instagram-friendly photo-op. Calico’s Late Harvest Festival is free to attend and open to the public. 1:00 to 7:00 p.m.