On September 28th, I volunteered for a 7-hour shift at the Apple Harvest Festival, helping keep the event running smoothly for both vendors and visitors. I spent most of the day walking the vendor strip, checking in with sellers, bringing water or food, and covering breaks when needed.

I also assisted with logistical tasks like setting up tables, seating areas, and crowd-control stanchions in the morning, then breaking everything down at the end of the day. Beyond that, I helped place parking signs and acted as a crossing guard to help manage heavy foot and vehicle traffic.

One thing that made the day especially enjoyable was getting to volunteer alongside my friend and teammate, Maddi. There are always Cornell students volunteering as well, and it was fun getting to meet and talk with them throughout the shift.

Overall, the experience taught me a lot about what goes into running a large community event—from handling small, important details to staying polite yet assertive. It was a long day, but truly rewarding to know I contributed to the festival’s success.