Sharon Springs: History, Harvest Festival, and Rural Experiences

Sharon Springs offers several reasons to visit: a historic townscape, museum collections about the mineral springs, an annual Harvest Festival, and seasonal experiences at Slate Hill Lavender Farm. Bakery and farm store offerings also put local foods in the spotlight. Whether you plan your trip around local history, a festival weekend, or seasonal produce will influence the best time to visit and the topics to include in your plans.

Local History and the Museum

According to a planning document published in 2012, the Sharon Springs Historic District includes 180 buildings. The American Hotel was built around 1840; after an extensive five-year renovation, it reopened to the public on May 23, 2001. Its construction and later reopening mark distinct chapters in the town’s history.

The mineral springs sparked a tourism boom in the mid-19th century, leading to the development of grand hotels and natural parks. The springs are therefore part of the history of tourism in Sharon Springs and explain the historical connection between mineral baths, hotels, and parks.

The Sharon Historical Museum Complex displays items of local interest, including numerous artifacts related to the mineral baths and early hotels. The Sharon Historical Society uses its museum and schoolhouse for historical education programs aimed at students, adults, and the community. For students, these include guided tours of the sites and collections, as well as hands-on activities.

Festival, Farm, and Seasonal Experiences

The Sharon Springs Harvest Festival takes place every year on the third weekend of September and has been a tradition for more than 15 years. Visitors can buy seasonal produce at the Harvest Market. If you plan your trip around the festival, check the specific dates in advance.

Slate Hill Lavender Farm grows lavender and dried flowers in the hills of Sharon Springs. The farm is open to the public on U-Pick days and during special events, from Father’s Day weekend through the end of July; seasonal visiting dates may change. Check the specific dates if a visit to the farm is important to your travel plans.

Local Foods

Brimstone Bakery has a retail area in Sharon Springs and makes cookies, biscotti, brownies, bars, pies and other cakes, scones, and sweet and savory pastries. The Blue Star Farm retail shop in the Village of Sharon Springs offers fruits and vegetables, sweet and hard cider, cider donuts, cheese, and other local products. For food enthusiasts, the occasions to visit differ: the two businesses offer their respective selections in town, while the Harvest Market is tied to the September festival.

The Wider Community Context

At the town level, Route 20 is a New York State Scenic Byway; the entire stretch through the Town of Sharon is part of it. Bowmakers Pond is also in the Town of Sharon and is used as a recreational spot, particularly for picnicking and fishing.

This gives you different seasonal windows to consider when planning your trip: the Harvest Festival on the third weekend of September and the farm’s offerings from Father’s Day weekend through the end of July. For a history-focused stay, you can instead make local history and the museum collections your main focus. First decide when to travel and what interests you, then look for a vacation rental in Sharon Springs that suits your plans.

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