Please scroll through our page for all information about this year’s Carrot Festival.
Below you will find…
Carrot Festival Sponsors, Food Offerings, Entertainment, Kids’ Zone, Stuff the Bus, 2026 Vendor Information, 2026 Vendors, Carrot A-Peel and Carrot Festival History.
From The Food Stand
Carrot Festival Brisket Sandwich Meal-served with pickle and potato knish $18
Chicken Shawarma Meal-aromatic-spiced chicken & veggies, pita, garlic sauce & lentil salad side-$16
Portobella Mushroom Sandwich-veggie-topped and served with lentil salad side-$12
Falafel Salad- chickpea balls tossed with roasted veggies & served with pita-$10
Potato Knish-potato-filled dough-$8
Potato latkes (pancakes)-served with applesauce-$8
Hummus-mashed chickpeas with lemon sesame sauce and garlic served with pita-$5-GF
Tsimmes-Root veggies with honey, dried fruit and OJ-GF-$8
Bunny Meal (for children 10 years old and under, please)-hot dog, carrots, chips, juice box, tattoo-$12
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From the Grill:
All-beef Hot Dog-$6
All-beef Hamburger-$8
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From The Bakery:
Signature Carrot Festival Cake-praline filled, dairy)
(Regular OR Gluten-Free-individual portion-$9
(Regular OR Gluten-Free- Family Pack-$32
Iced Gluten-Free Carrot Cake (with walnuts/non-dairy-pareve)-$12
Iced Carrot Walnut Cake (non-dairy-pareve)-$12
Iced Carrot Cake (no nuts/non-dairy-pareve)-$12
Banana Chocolate Chip Carrot Cake (non-dairy-pareve)-$12
Signature Carrot Cake Ends (Regular and GF/dairy)-$16
Festival Carrot-Raisin cookies (nondairy/pareve)-$1.50 for bag of 2
Gluten-Free Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookie (nondairy/pareve)-$1.50 each
Schedule:
10:30am-11:15am A Glezele Tey
11:20am-11:35am Cardoard Box Improv Duo
11:45am-12:45pm R & K Jazz
12:50pm-1:05pm TBA
1:15pm-2:15pm Gina Coleman’s Misty Blues Band
2:20pm-2:45pm Children at the Well storytellers
3:00pm-4:00pm Alex Torres Latin Orchestra
A Glezele Tey (Yiddish for “a little glass of tea”) invites you into their living room for a little glass of tea from the samovar, bringing audiences into an intimate and enthralling world of klezmer, Yiddish folk song, and tkhines (traditional Ashkenazi prayers centering the experiences of women, trans, and gender non-conforming people, set to new melodies). Drawing from old recordings and contemporary culture rooted in the Eastern European Jewish diaspora, A Glezele Tey’s music is an act of deep care—rooted in community gathering, lineage, and ritual, we raise our collective voices to move through grief, inspire action, and build a frayer velt (a freer world). A Glezele Tey is based in Northampton, MA and is comprised of klezmer musicians, composers, and cultural organizers Ariel Shapiro (accordion, vocals) and Rachel Leader (violin).
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1s1idIsJjfi4aecwdAv2nOAyXIA3b76uG
Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra
Agudat Achim’s Carrot Festival is proud to welcome Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra in recognition and celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Well-known in the Capital District for vibrant concerts full of powerful music that pulses with Latin beats and melodies, Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra have toured internationally, been the recipient of 4 Eddies Awards, and written original music for TV programs, films and video games. Formed by Bronx-born bassist Alex Torres in Amsterdam NY in 1980, the group has performed their original blend of Afro-Caribbean rhythms sof Salsa, Merengue, Cha-cha, Bomba, Plena and Latin Jazz at hundreds of festivals, performing arts centers and events, Sharing the stage with such major acts as Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Branford Marsalis and Count Basie. In addition to their concert end event schedule, the group visits schools through Arts-in-Education programs, introducing Latin instruments, roots and rhythms in hands-on programs and concerts. Here’s your chance to break out your dancing shoes for this year’s closing set with Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra!
Gina Coleman’s Misty Blues Band
Gina Coleman and the Misty Blues Band blew the roof off the Music Haven Stage when they performed at the annual Blues night. Hailing from western Massachusetts, with 17 albums under their belt, they have been serving up a signature blend of original and traditional blues for over 25 years. Fronted by the powerhouse vocals of founder Gina Coleman, the group seamlessly weaves elements of jazz, soul, funk, and tent-revival gospel into their deep-rooted blues sound.
A 2019 International Blues Challenge finalist with 17 albums to their name, Misty Blues has recorded with legends like Charles Neville, Eric Gales, and Joe Louis Walker, while sharing stages with blues icons across North America and Europe. Known for their high-energy performances and rich arrangements, Misty Blues delivers soul-stirring live shows that honor traditional blues while pushing the genre forward.
R & K Jazz & Blues
RK Jazz & Blues (rkjazzandblues.com) RK Jazz & Blues, a performance project going into it’s 14th year, plays selections generally from the 1920’s thru the 1970’s. Their repertoire includes jazz standards, sambas, bossa novas, and more. Members at Carrot Festival will be talented vocalist (and Niskayuna native) Terri Roben, outstanding jazz guitarist MaryAnn Kosek, Ben Rau on drums and vocals, and Madeleine Mead on bass. “the perfect blend of classic sound with modest innovation. Soft and unobtrusive, but still lively and energetic. A combination that brings a certain nostalgia to the room where you are at ease, yet still excited with anticipation for the next song. A true experience of jazz and blues.” – Happy Newlyweds
https://www.rkjazzandblues.com/
15-Love
Albany Firebirds
Bring on the Spectrum
Electric City Community Grocery
Girl Scouts
Goldfish Swim School (CP)
Jewish Federation of NENY
Kelly Adirondack Center of Union College
Mathnasium
Misci
Niskayuna Fire Department
Pony Rides
Religious School
Reptile Adventure
Schenectady k9 Ghostbusters
Schenectady JCC
Schenectady Public Library
Sheriff
United Way
WMHT Public Media
Arbonne International
Audrey’s Art LTD
Bess Beads
Bath Fitter
Bohemian Pizazz
DaChe
Egyptian Influence
Forever Roses
Four Seasons Wax Melts & More
Hangin’ With My Gnomies
Heyday Riot
Hopenhagen Farm
Jenzer’s Gems
Lisa A McCarthy
Lisa NeJame
Maison Made Crafts
Minnie Treasures
Moose Cat Crafts
New York Life Insurance Company
Norwex
Pampered Chef
Perfectly Imperfect Pottery
poemRENOVATION
Saint Rocco’s Treats
Sleepy Dog Knits
Solely Ashley Boutique
The Daily Gazette
The Super Patch Company
Tupperware
Two Spruce Pottery
Upper Junction Creations
Vista Home Improvement
Alpha Pregnancy Care Center
Amidah Albany
Asian Arts New York, Inc.
County of Schenectady, Department of Senior & Long Term Care
Donation List Sycamore Collaborative
ECOS (Environmental Clearinghouse)
FARM (Farm Animal Rights Movement)
Garden Alliance / HADS
Gift of Life Marrow Registry
Healthy Capital District Initiative
Jewish Family Services of Northeastern New York
Literacy Volunteers of Capital Region
Living Resources
Mohawk Opportunities
Niskayuna Rotary Club
Octavos Singers
Patriot Hills
Planned Parenthood
RocDog Capital Region
SAFE, INC of Schenectady
Schenectady County Connects
St. Catherine’s Center for Children
Sycamore Collaborative
Unite NY
In 1978, the CAA parking lot needed paving. Members Paul and Rose Westheimer, owners of The Carrot Barn at Schoharie Valley Farms, produced and packaged 1,400 tons of carrots that year and suggested during a brainstorming session that a carrot-themed fundraiser might be a successful endeavor to complete the task at hand.
After more than 40 years of successful Carrot Festivals, the Westheimers were glad to see their idea become a community institution. They remembered Paul’s father, Julius, making and selling fresh carrot juice at the first festival! There were pony rides on the front lawn, along with cotton candy and taffy for kids. “It was minuscule compared to now,” Paul Westheimer said. The money raised in that first festival, mostly from selling fruit and vegetables, paid for the paving job and was the beginning of what has become one of the Capital Region’s favorite end-of-summer outings. Long after the Carrot Barn was sold, the Westheimers were active members of the Carrot Festival committee, until they relocated to Massachusetts. Sadly, we lost precious Rose z”l in early 2021. Her legacy lives on. The Carrot Festival now showcases foods and desserts, including several kinds of carrot cake. Other features include fresh produce from the Carrot Barn in Schoharie, live music and entertainment throughout the day, vendors and crafters, a community service tent, a pet adoption clinic, and plenty of activities to keep children entertained. The “star of the show” is the Signature Carrot Festival Carrot Cake: a buttery praline filling between the two cake layers, topped with a rich cream cheese frosting. In 2006, the Congregation copyrighted and published the cookbook Divine Kosher Cuisine. An entire cookbook section was devoted to Carrot Festival recipes. The cookbook contains many delicious kosher recipes and can be purchased at our Leora Judaica Gift Shop
Entertainment traditionally includes a Klezmer band, Israeli dancers, performers from Schenectady Light Opera Company’s (SLOC’s) fall shows, and much more. In addition, special afternoon concerts have featured the local bands Flame, Joe’s Boys, the McKrells, The Accents, and The Refrigerators, to name a few. In 2019, we were also honored with a performance by American Idol Third Place winner Madison VanDenburg, who lives in Cohoes.
Vendors and crafters sell jewelry, kitchen gadgets, pottery, cosmetics, floral designs, clothing, and more. The community service tent features local non-profit organizations showcasing what they do to help the community, as well as many volunteer opportunities with our new partner, The United Way of the Greater Capital Region! The children’s area is always filled with activities to keep kids of all ages busy for hours.
The Carrot Festival has become a community family tradition, and we are proud that COVID-19 did not stop us from holding a festival in 2020, even if it looked a bit different. But happily, the Westheimers’ vision carries on with volunteers hard at work planning our 2026 Carrot Festival. We welcome you to join us!
Congregation Agudat Achim office: 518-393-9211
Other Questions?
Contact Hillary at hbean5891@aol.com or 518-331-4208
Committee meeting!
