Coming up this week are 2 events. One is on the weekend and the other is reoccurring. The new one is the Big Daddy Festival. This festival came out of the Halton Hills Cultural Round table. They identified the need for a festival and as they did there homework they discovered that on Fathers Day, there is no festival dedicated to Fathers. So a very dedicated group of Volunteers (there is that word again) got together and started planning. This event will be taking place across Halton Hills with different events in Acton, Georgetown and the rural area.
On Thursday prior to the kick off of the festival the Acton BIA will be launching a Farmers Market in Acton! The market will be on Willow Street and will run each Thursday evening (3 pm to 7 pm) until October. Just imagine fresh farm vegetables and fruits at a market here in Town. Find out more at http://www.downtownacton.ca/ They call it “Where Fresh meets Family”
The idea of a farmers market has been suggested by the BIA for a number of years. It seems that people are …finally….. concerned about where there food is produced. The last couple of year’s problems with food processed and manufactured in China and elsewhere have raised people’s awareness of food security. Also the issue of preservation of farmland, and farming has brought this to the forefront. Fresh produce makes sense from an environmental sense as the food does not travel thousands of miles, economic as the money remains close to your community and creates jobs. Also, from a freshness factor that you can’t beat the taste of local food.
Forty years ago my Grandfather started the Milton Farmers market as he did not like the quality of the fruits and vegetables for sale in the local grocery store. Grandpa was a fruit and vegetable farmer who had a farm at Brookville. He would travel to Guelph to sell his produce and on his retirement moved into Milton. As a boy I would help out on Saturdays and since then have been hooked on buying at markets.
If you do not see local Ontario Produce on your grocery Store. Ask for it…
The Acton portion of the Big Daddy Festival will be kicked off at the Roxy Theatre on Friday night. Saturday has the popular “Taste of Acton”, Dad and Me Karaoke in the Park and wraps up with the popular “Movies in the Park. For more details on the Big Daddy Festival, or for a full schedule checkout http://www.bigdaddyfestival.ca
Clark,
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting day in Acton with the Farmers' Market starting. Let's hope the tradition lasts as long as the one your Grandfather started in Milton. We are very exciting and encouraged with the support and interest. Today's the day, see you there!
Nancy Wilkes