Farmfest Safety Protocols

Kawartha Farmfest 2022 Safety Protocols

Health and Safety of participants, volunteers and hosts is a top priority.  Protocols have been put in place to allow for physical distancing. Participants, volunteers and hosts may wear a mask if they wish while participating in Kawartha Farmfest, although masks are not required. Please observe all posted signs and travel through each site as a group with those in your carload. If possible try to maintain 6-feet (2m) of separation from other guests and the site hosts. Use handwashing and sanitizing stations at arrival and departure from each site, as well as before and after eating. Recognize that farm environments can have unsafe areas. Remain in the areas open for the tour and follow the posted signage and direction of Farm Hosts.

Safety Plan:

• Each site to implement a COVID Safety Plan which includes passive screening of workers, volunteers, and patrons; social distancing; reduced touch points; regular sanitation; hand washing and/or hand sanitizers; optional masking for hosts and participants.
• Advanced, online-only registration to regulate flow of visitors to each site, maximize enjoyment for all participants, and keep attendance manageable for hosts.
• Through the online event registration participants will be required to schedule their visits to farm sites in one hour blocks throughout the event so participants can have an advanced plan for their route for the day. This prevents excessively large numbers from attending at one time at a site. Both adults ($5) and children (Free) will be registered through Eventbrite ticketing to allow appropriate tracking of people per site at a time.
• Host Site staff and volunteers will conduct passive-screening in advance of attending the site.
• Participants will be asked to self-screen prior to attending the event. Persons answering yes to any screening questions are asked to stay home and not attend Kawartha Farmfest.
• Any sites offering processed food products or ready to eat food will do so under the authorization of the Health Unit through their Special Event Food Premise Permitting process.
• Participating sites are sufficiently large to allow carloads of participants to flow through the sites as separate and distinct groups, this event offers participants the opportunity to participate in safer, outdoor environments.
• Patrons in line ups are asked to maintain a physical distance of 2 metres if possible.

Safety Is Our Primary Concern

The Health and Safety of our guests, visitors and communities is our top priority.  We will make every effort possible to keep our customers, staff, volunteers and families safe by following the guidelines set by health professionals at the Government of Canada, Ontario Ministry of Health and Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit.

Prior to Arrival:

• Prior to coming to Kawartha Farmfest, every participant is encouraged to self-assess or take the Ontario Ministry of Health self-assessment for COVID-19. If you do not pass the assessment, you should not participate in the event.
• Participants should be aware of signs and symptoms of COVID-19, including: fever, cough, difficulty breathing, muscle aches, tiredness, sore throat, headache, runny nose, new loss of taste or smell.

Practice Proper Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette:

• Clean your hands often. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based (70-90%) hand sanitizer.
• Cover your cough or sneeze into a tissue. Immediately throw the tissue in the garbage and wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm. Avoid touching your face, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid touching surfaces where possible, even though frequently touched objects and surfaces will be routinely sanitized by hosts.

Farm Amenities and Facilities:

• Leave your pets at home. Most Farm Sites have livestock and poultry that may become agitated or fearful in the presence of unfamiliar pets which can also become excited when encountering these new situations. This can become a safety risk for both the humans and animals in the area.
• The event will take place rain or shine. If the weather is sunny please don't forget your hat and sunscreen, or if rain is possible, pack your raincoats and umbrellas.
• Flat shoes or boots are recommended as there will be uneven ground on most sites, and you may encounter muddy or wet surfaces if it has been or is raining.
• Participants are asked to follow their booked schedule for the day, limiting each Farm Site visit to the time slot they have booked the Farm Site Entry Ticket for, and leave the sites once they have completed their visit, respecting that other participants will be entering at their scheduled time.
• Park only in designated parking areas and follow the direction of the parking volunteers. Do not block gates or park on the side of roadways. Parking at most sites will be in a farm field. Low sports cars are not recommended.
• Most sites will have public washrooms or portable toilets and all have hand washing or sanitizing. Participants are encouraged to sanitize their hands upon arrival and prior to leaving each site as well as before and after eating.
• Be patient and respectful of others, including our dedicated host families and volunteers. Follow all signage and direction of farm hosts, and do not enter areas of the farm which are closed to visitors. Areas may be closed for safety or biosecurity purposes, or may not be part of the tour.