For Immediate Release

CONTACT:
Nicole Paulus, Communications Director for Harvest Fest 2012
608-574-2082

norml.nicole@gmail.com
http://madisonhempfest.com/

42nd Annual Harvest Fest in Madison

Madison, WI, October 4 – October 7: Join us for the 42nd Annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival in downtown Madison, WI. Always on the first weekend in October, thousands gather to learn about cannabis and hemp, listen to speakers, enjoy national and local artists, shop a variety of vendors with cannabis related merchandise and enjoy the atmosphere while calling for an end to Cannabis Prohibition in Wisconsin.

With the April 2011 passing of Ben Masel, the lead organizer for 39 years, Masel’s friends and colleagues continue to carry the torch and this year’s Harvest Fest touts several fresh additions such as the very well received Pre-Harvest Open Disc Golf Tournament which took place in Madison’s Heistand Park on September 22. Over 60 participants raised over a thousand dollars to help cover insurance costs for the fest. Teams competed for cash prizes and a complimentary goodie bag full of cool stuff including a stamped tournament disc, mini disc set, t-shirt, lip balm, wrist band, can coozie and more.

Events roll out Thursday, October 4 with a free Harvest Fest Pre-Show Warm Up at Mr. Robert’s on Atwood Avenue beginning at 8pm featuring Notorious, The Material Boys, Mexican Coke. There’s also late show at 11pm featuring AFGM.

Friday night, 6-8pm, features a Madison/WI NORML Benefit Concert/Fundraiser at the Frequency with Mexican Coke and River Water Tribe.  Donations accepted. Also, this year we are pleased to announce our first National act in many years, Sho Tunez (rap/hip hop) from Orlando, FL playing a free show at Mr. Robert’s on Friday night, October 5, at 10pm with Mt. Horeb’s own The Earthlings and others.

Saturday October 6, festivities begin at 11:30am at Library Mall on the campus end of State Street. New this year is a silent auction which will take place all day Saturday, with generous donations from a variety of shops and artisans, featuring a 1914 ten dollar federal bill in good condition from an anonymous donor. This bill features a depiction of the hemp industry on the back. Expect many vendors, food, educational booths, speakers, live music, a fashion show and camaraderie until 6:30pm. Crystal Corner Bar will host an Official Harvest Fest Evening Event beginning at 9:45pm. A $7 cover will get you in to see The Mustache and The Big Payback. Mr. Robert’s will also host a free Official Event beginning at 10pm with Ifdakar and Recalcitrant.

This year’s speakers will educate fest-goers about the many diverse and beneficial uses of hemp and cannabis for industrial, commercial, medical, nutritional and a plethora of other purposes.  Viewpoints range from professional, practical and personal aspects. We welcome back Farmer Bill from Nebraska, and are pleased to include Dan Solano of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), and many more. On Sunday we welcome Dan Goldman of Students for Sensible Drug Policy in NYC (SSDP-NYC), David Karpe, a Wisconsin attorney, Dr. Angela Jannis from Janesville, plus others.

Sunday October 7 activities begin at 12:30pm on Library Mall with artists including The Dave Band, Venice Gas House Trolley and The Material Boys. Beginning at 4:20pm is the traditional parade up State Street to the Capitol steps. Be there as hundreds join the march, protesting cannabis prohibition, urging state government to practice compassion for medical marijuana patients as a growing number of other states already have, and improve Wisconsin’s economy by allowing an industrial hemp industry to thrive here again.

Madison’s Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival began as a marijuana smoke-in in 1971. Forty-two years later, Harvest Fest is still promoting hemp and cannabis legalization and free speech. We join this year to celebrate the City of Antigo, Wisconsin who approved an ordinance decriminalizing 10 grams of marijuana this year, developed at the request of Police Chief Eric Roller. Harvest Fest brings together a greater community to cooperate and celebrate in a safe and friendly atmosphere.

For more information: http://madisonhempfest.com/