To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Hood River Valley Harvest Fest, festival organizers are planning a Fourth of July-style fireworks show for the festival’s opening night, Friday, Oct. 19.

The fireworks will begin at 7:15 p.m., but the festival hours that day are from 1 to 8 p.m., so festival-goers are encouraged to come early to browse the more than 100 vendor booths that comprise the festival’s main attractions.

The Hood River Valley Harvest Fest is the largest annual event in the Gorge, drawing more than 21,000 people through the gates last year. Most come to sample and purchase the bounty of freshly harvested, locally grown fruit and veggies, and taste some of the region’s finest wines.

Early holiday gift shopping is also high on the to-do list of many guests, as fine arts and crafts vendors will be selling their handmade creations in nearly every media including stained glass, metal and wood work, fiber, ceramics, painting, drawing and photography, soaps and candles, and much more — even bonsai trees.

The autumn colors of the Columbia River and snow-capped Mount Hood set the stage for the Harvest Fest, which is held at the Hood River Expo Center, situated on the waterfront in Hood River.

There will be live entertainment on a main stage all weekend long featuring Gorge-area musicians and variety acts.

Also notable is the annual Harvest Quilt Raffle, presenting a hand-made quilt, the colors and block designs of which were determined democratically — by the vote of Blossom Festival Quilt Show attendees in April at the Harvest Fest’s spring-season twin.

Harvest Fest weekend brings with it a number of smaller-scale harvest celebrations throughout the scenic Hood River Valley. The Gorge Fruit and Craft Fair will be at the Hood River County Fairgrounds in Odell; Rasmussen Farms’ popular Pumpkin Funland will be in full swing, corn maze and pumpkin patch included; and the Mt. Hood Railroad will offer scenic rail excursions through the Hood River Valley, and riders can explore the Autumn Fest along with their ride.

Festival admission is $5 per person or $7 for a weekend pass.

Children 12 and under are admitted free. Parking is also free. The Hood River Valley Harvest Fest is open 1-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21.