You know the summer has truly come to an end when the pumpkins turn orange, the leaves are changing, and the farmers set up their fresh produce for the last market of the season. Sept. 26 is that day for the Duvall Farmers Market.

In celebration of the end of the growing year, the market will be bustling with more than just farmers and crafters. Yes, there will be live music, as there is every week. And yes, there will be additional booths stocked with fresh, handmade truffles, delicious hot baked goods, fresh honey and eggs, fresh seafood and community information.

But September 26 will also be the site of the second annual Harvest Celebration at the market, complete with kids activities, crafts, games, prizes and free popcorn. The activities may sound old fashioned, but spoon races, clothespin drops, chicken toss, and musical hay bales have been keeping kids happy and entertained for decades.

Guest star Snoopy, sponsored by Met Life, will be present to add to the fun and also to award the prizes to the winners of the pumpkin and sunflower growing contest. Children entered the contest earlier in the year by planting seeds and they’ll return the results of their summer project for this Harvest Celebration to receive a free T shirt and possibly win a prize. Also, every week of the market, customers have entered a free drawing for market goodies, with winners walking away with everything from handcrafted items to market produce. The final week of the market, three winners will receive a market bag filled with market goodies.

“It’s been such a rewarding year,” stated Market Director Laurie Gilbertson. “Our new location on First Avenue has given us increased visibility, and we have loads of parking. Plus, the Duvall community has been so supportive.”

Gilbertson added that the participation of so many community organizations this season really gave the market an incredible “sense of community,” with dozens of local organizations participating over the summer, such as the Historical Society, Duvall Civic Club, Duvall Cultural Commission, Northwest Art Center, YMCA Wreck Center, and Mothers of Duvall, not to mention the many organizations who participated in the special events the market put on over the summer, such as Conservation Day, Emergency Preparedness Day or Seniors Day.

It was a year of firsts for the market – the first Jam-orama Contest, where “Judge” Mayor Will Ibershof helped choose a winning jam, and first Salsa Contest (which originally had some people geared up to dance before they realized the judges were more interested in their salsa with chips than a musical salsa).

One final event remains in 2007. The annual Christmas Craft Fair has been scheduled for Dec. 1. Contact Laurie Gilbertson at 425-788-1185, ext. 402 or duvallfarmersmarket@msn.com.