Martha’s Vineyard digs local food. Evidence of this is all over the Island, from restaurants serving local bonito to workshops on connecting to local farms. But local food is about a lot more than just healthy and great tasting food. It’s a way of life, and each year the Living Local Harvest Festival puts center stage the whole process of the local movement, from soil to stomach and beyond.

The free event begins Oct. 3 at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center and continues on Oct. 4 at the Agricultural Hall.

“So much is going on in the seed world here we thought it would be appropriate to do an opening night movie at the film center,” said Nevette Previd, director of the annual Living Local Harvest Festival. “This year there seemed to be a big grain and seed theme that’s happening on the Island. The seed library in West Tisbury, grains planted in Island schools, Offshore Ale is growing local hops.”

The free screening of Open Sesame: The Story of Seeds begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night. Seating is limited and online reservations through the film center’s website are encouraged.

A panel discussion with Noli Taylor, director of Island Grown Schools, and Ken Green, founder of the Hudson Valley Seed Library who is also featured in Open Sesame, will follow the film. Food historian Jessica B. Harris will moderate a discussion on where food comes from.

The conversation continues on Saturday with six different hour-long workshops, including seed saving, and biochar, a name for charcoal when used as a soil amendment and other purposes. There will also be talks on local options for reducing the carbon footprint with Nathaniel Mulcahy, founder and director of World Stove, LLC. Sassafras Earth Education will hold a nature connection mentoring session, and the Wild Food Challenge (taking place Oct. 13) will host a booth, giving an early look, and taste, of that festival.

For the first time, the annual event is inviting musicians to bring instruments to participate in the first Living Local open stage, taking place from 3 to 5 p.m. Ms. Previd said the idea to add an open stage came from Dana Edelman, who was instrumental in organizing the event’s music.

“We wanted to bring more teenagers and 20-somethings to the festival this year and so we brainstormed together and thought, well, Alex’s Place has had really successful open mic nights,” Ms. Previd said. Prizes will be awarded for various categories and the open stage was made possible by the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard Teen Center and Project Next, an initiative of the Martha’s Vineyard Youth Task Force.

Jellybone Rivers, Eric Johnson and singers from the regional high school, and Rick Bausman and friends will play throughout the day. From 5 to 6:30 p.m. Mr. Edelman and Charlie Giordano will play a bluegrass show, and at 6:30 p.m. The Flying Elbows take the stage — bring your contra dancing shoes.

Vendor booths open at 10 a.m.

“We asked each food vendor to make the food they sell from at least 70 per cent local ingredients,” Ms. Previd said. If you missed Josh Aronie’s Loco Taco truck at the Agricultural Fair, here’s your chance to try them. Too early for tacos? Stop by the Chilmark Coffee booth with the Chilmark Baker or the 7a Foods booth.

The Living Local Harvest Festival is also the place to try local conch chowder and fritters by chef Deon Thomas. “Conch is really huge here, but we don’t really eat it,” Ms. Previd said. In between meals, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., take advantage of the free activities. Look for the Farm Institute’s kids crafts table or cow chip bingo. See for yourself if an alpaca really does feel like a stuffed animal. Introduce yourself to Island horses, ducks, goats, pigs and chickens. Morning Glory Farm will host a pumpkin carving station. A community supper dubbed Food with Roots and hosted by Living Local and the Scottish Bakehouse begins at 5 p.m. For $15, eat Island-raised pork, local farm vegetables, ancient grains and as much dessert as you want. Bring a couple extra dollars and a valid ID if you want to wash it down with some local Offshore ale.

The event is also made possible with contributions from Anson Mills, Beetlebung Farm, Morning Glory Farm, North Tabor Farm, Scottish Bakehouse, The Good Farm, Thimble Farm and Whippoorwill Farm.

The festival is a zero waste event. “Carry in, carry out. People can bring their own place setting or we’ll be selling them for an additional $2,” Ms. Previd said.

If it rains on Saturday, the event will be pushed to Sunday.

“What I love about Living Local is the vibe people have and how amazing this community is,” said Ms. Previd. “Each year, those who have lived here are surprised at how much people are doing here with local food and with the amazing programs we have on Martha’s Vineyard. I hope people leave with a little element of surprise and a little warm and fuzzy feeling about the community.”