By Cecilia Nasmith

New Amherst Village invites you to help make a difference for women and children in need throughout Northumberland County through their Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre Raffle.

Tickets are $5 each or three for $10, available at Cornerstone – as well as at their Oct. 19 New Amherst Fall Harvest Festival.

The grand prize is a one-of-a-kind expressionist artwork by accomplished New Amherst resident Betsy Miller, while the other three prizes are unique package experiences – one night's stay at the new Airbnb suites in New Amherst Village – the ClockTower Suites, The Wilkins and The Carriage House Loft.

The festival itself is a free event hosted by New Amherst Village from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 950 New Amherst Blvd. (off County Road 2 at Cobourg's west end).

It's a wonderful way to celebrate the harvest season at an open-air market featuring local artisans, farmers, food vendors and local businesses while you enjoy live music by Carl Cotton, Jeff Biggar, Kate Boothman and The Wendy Meadows Trio.

Family activities include face painting, pumpkin bowling, scarecrow decorating and horse-drawn-wagon tours of the community (with stops at all three Airbnb units).

Adult fun includes Warrior Axe Throwing, Northumberland Brewing Company Craft Beer sampling, a pumpkin-carving contest and a pie-eating contest.

New Amherst marketing and community-relations representative Kim Miller said neighbourhood events on a smaller scale have been held at New Amherst before, as well as projects that give back such as food drives and the Community Garden.

“This time we wanted to do something that would benefit the larger community of Northumberland County,” Miller said in the Cornerstone press release.

“Family is the foundation of a community, and we want to do what we can to help Cornerstone support local families in crisis.”

Cornerstone manager of community engagement Janelle Eisler is delighted with the partnership behind this unique fundraising raffle.

“It is wonderful to see residents like long-time Cornerstone supporter Betsy Miller generously offering their gifts of talent to donate our grand prize,” Eisler said.

“And I have seen the three Airbnb suites at New Amherst, and I think they are a wonderful amenity for local tourism.”

Raffle winners will be drawn and announced at 3 p.m. Oct. 19 at the festival and posted on the New Amherst Homes Facebook page the following Monday.