The Haki Farmers Collective's Sorghum Festival returns to Rochester for a three-day weekend of communal grain harvesting, live music and camping starting Friday, Sept. 25.

The second annual festival runs through Sunday, Sept. 27, at the collective's farm at 13423 Littlerock Rd. SE in Rochester, about 20 minutes south of Olympia.

The festival centers on sorghum, a cereal grain native to North Africa that predates corn and wheat. Attendees can join a communal hand harvest of the crop, then watch the sugar-filled stalks get pressed and boiled into sorghum molasses.

The collective describes the communal harvest as a tradition passed down through the generations on the African continent.

The Haki Farmers Collective is a 501(c)(3) multi-farm network growing regenerative food across Olympia, Yelm and Centralia. Its founding members have roots in Kenya, and the collective said it has been learning to acclimate and grow sweet sorghum, called "Muhia" in their mother tongue, at the Thurston County farm since 2022. The group specializes in African diaspora crops and grows food without synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fungicides.

Beyond the harvest, the weekend includes live music, a vendor market with local food and crafts, educational programming, seed swapping and camping. Acts announced so far include Oh Rose, Generifus, Mazigazi and Sunflower Season, with more artists expected. The collective is also seeking food trucks, crafters and volunteers; interested parties can email [email protected].

The first Sorghum Festival took place Oct. 11–12, 2025, with tickets at $25. Prices for 2026 have increased. Day passes cost $30, weekend passes run $50, and children 12 and under get in free. Tickets are available through Tixtree.

Bring cash. Cell service can be spotty on the property.

The collective described the event as a community labor of love organized by a small team of local farmers, musicians and volunteers. Sponsorships and donations are tax-deductible through the collective's nonprofit status.