Our camera sweeps over the quiet pastures of Hildene's dene on this August afternoon, capturing the sprawling farm that stretches below Robert Lincoln's hilltop mansion. The greenhouse gleams in the sunlight, vegetable gardens overflow with late-summer abundance, and a few alpacas lounge in the shade - one sprawled so dramatically that visitors regularly call the welcome center to inquire as to it’s well-being (Spoiler: they're just expert sunbathers.)
If this place looks magical now, just wait until September 26th when these stunning 412 acres transform into the setting for one of Vermont's most authentic harvest celebrations. Hildene’s Autumn Harvest Festival isn't just another fall event - it's what happens when 200 neighbors gather at golden hour for the kind of dinner party that could only happen in the Green Mountains.
"We want people to experience the real Hildene," explains Christine Furman as she walks us through the festival setup. This isn't the mansion tour that many visitors know. Down here in the dene - the Old English word for "valley with stream" that partially gives Hildene its name - the Lincoln legacy lives on through working agriculture, conservation efforts, and genuine community connection.
The Lincoln connection to Manchester runs deep - Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham's only surviving son, first visited this area as a young man and was so taken with Vermont's beauty that he eventually purchased 412 acres to build what he envisioned as his family's ancestral home. Today, that same spirit of gathering and renewal infuses every aspect of Hildene’s Autumn Harvest Festival.
Following Christine's practiced route from the stone wall entrance to the greenhouse, you can almost see the September evening unfolding. Guests will park inside the historic stone wall - the same boundary Robert Lincoln established - then walk or take the farm tram over to check in at the schoolhouse, where they'll receive their drink tickets and get their bearings.
The festival entrance flows naturally through the greenhouse, where welcome banners will guide visitors into the heart of the celebration. The festival previously ran as a donor appreciation event, but this marks its debut as a ticketed community celebration, capped at 200 people to maintain that dinner party intimacy.
The timing couldn't be more perfect: 4 PM to 7 PM, with dusk settling around 6:40 PM - creating an evening where late-afternoon sunshine gives way to golden hour magic as you dine surrounded by some of Vermont's most stunning mountain valley views.
Step through the greenhouse and you'll discover a harvest extravaganza. Ann, one of Hildene's talented master gardeners, creates massive displays of vegetables pulled fresh from these very plants - including curiosities like cucumber melons that taste exactly as their name suggests, with a hint of lemon sweetness that stops first-time tasters in their tracks. A must try!
Don’t sleep on the Apple Pie Contest! Eight local bakers have already signed up, with local judge John Burnham from the Manchester Business Association among the lucky panel. Each baker brings two pies - one for judging, one for serving - and Pangea's Grill (who handles all the delectable catering) will slice and serve the samples once the competition concludes.
Twisted Horn Brewery (connected with Glebe Mountain nursery) is providing the beer, so be sure to be ready for a frosty pint or two!
What elevates this beyond typical harvest celebration is Hildene's serious conservation work. The Randall Cattle grazing these nearby pastures represent an endangered breed with fewer than 1,000 individuals worldwide. Their sole purpose here? Increasing herd numbers to preserve genetic diversity. Plans are underway to add up to 20 more cattle, making Hildene a significant player in saving this historic New England breed.
It's the kind of behind-the-scenes mission that gives weight to every aspect of your visit. You're not just attending a festival - you're supporting conservation, education, and the preservation of Robert Lincoln's vision for this land.
As afternoon gives way to evening, lively bluegrass music will set up along the fence line, creating the perfect soundtrack for flower picking, cornhole games, and those inevitable photo ops with farm animals who've learned that festivals mean extra attention.
The silent auction runs throughout the evening and continues from September 19th through October 5th, featuring experiences you can't book anywhere else: private tours, garden consultations with Hildene's own experts, sensational photo sessions on the property to capture memories you simply can't create elsewhere, and much more!
Tickets sell online only through September 12th - no last-minute purchases at the gate. Adult tickets include food, activities, and one drink ticket, with additional drinks available for purchase. The festival runs rain or shine.
The 200-person cap means intimate rather than overwhelming, community-focused rather than glitz and glam. You're more likely to chat with the gardener who grew your dinner vegetables than stand in line behind strangers.
In our drone footage, Hildene's farm appears as a green oasis between mountain ridges, a working landscape that's remained largely unchanged since Robert Lincoln's time. By September 26th, those same fields will host harvest bounty at peak season, autumn light that photographers dream about, and the kind of genuine community gathering that makes you remember why you love Vermont.
The best dinner parties happen when great ingredients, good people, and perfect timing converge. Mark September 26th on your calendars - Hildene is about to prove that Vermont does harvest season better than anywhere else.
Hildene's Autumn Harvest Festival
Friday, September 26, 2025, 4-7 PM
Tickets available online through September 12th
1005 Hildene Road, Manchester, Vermont
Learn more and purchase tickets at hildene.org
