Cannabis Cup. Photos by Roy Gumpel/The Overlook.

The 30th annual New York Harvest Fest Cannabis Cup was presented by Damn Sam & Higher Beings on Oct. 24 from noon to midnight. 

For three decades the New York Harvest Fest has worked towards cannabis culture, activism, music, art, and community. Since its conception, New York Harvest Fest has featured artists including Pete Seeger, George Clinton & the 420 Funk Mob, Richie Havens, and Levon Helm.

“The Cannabis Cup was a success, the music was amazing, and the community showed up in a big way,” said Emily Harper, someone who has worked alongside Damn Sam Productions for six years. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. Happy people, happy vendors, a happy community, and happy promoters.”

The Cannabis Cup allows growers to share their crops with their supporters and competitors. Violet Beauregard by Golden Road Seed Company, run by Marc Gallo won this year’s festival. The strain is described to have a floral lavender profile with a “back end of fine import Afghani hash,” with a touch of raw Opium on the exhale.

The fest has also served as a platform for voices in cannabis activism including Jack Herer, Ask Ed Rosenthal, Timothy Tyler, and more. This year, Skeleton Crewe Quintet, Pappy, SAGE, Laura Leigh Band, and the Misty Mountain Ramblers performed at the event. The United State’s longest running cannabis competition also took place during the fest. 

  • Laura Leigh Band.
  • Misty Mountain Ramblers.

Original photography by Roy Gumpel/The Overlook.

Mia Quick is an editorial assistant and reporter at The Overlook. Send correspondence to mia@theoverlooknews.com.

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Roy Gumpel (b. 1956) is an American photographer from Port Chester, N.Y., who has been making images since buying his first camera in 1972. After photographing local football games and shooting for the...

Mia Quick is a born-and-raised Catskills native and began her professional career working at The Overlook. She has writing and photography featured in The Legislative Gazette, where she focused on policy...