Kawartha Farmfest is an annual, one-day, self-guided driving tour of farms and rural attractions throughout Kawartha Lakes. Your $5-admission includes a map and guide to all Farmfest sites, open between 10am and 4pm.
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Admission Purchase Tickets Online
Farmfest admission costs $5 for adults but is free for kids under the age of 14. With each paid adult admission you will receive an admission sticker and program passport containing a detailed map and descriptions of each participating site. Buy your tickets in advance and receive a Buy-one-get-one free ice cream cone at Kawartha Dairy Lindsay or Bobcaygeon, good on event day.
| Advanced On-line Purchase |
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New for this year! For Adult General Admission and some additional Experiences, you canpurchase tickets online. Please bring your Eventbrite proof of purchase along with your e-tickets to the welcome desk at your first stop on the tour to exchange for your Farmfest admission sticker. Any pre-purchased Experience tickets will be presented at the farm hosting that Experience. |
| Advanced In-person Purchase |
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In-person advanced purchases of general adult admission stickers and maps are also available at the following locations:
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Event-Day Admission and Experience Purchase |
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You can also purchase your admission sticker at all Kawartha Farmfest farm and attraction sites on event day. Additional cost Experiences can also be purchased at the farm site offering that experience on event day, pending availability. |
New Tastes and Experiences Available
For 2018 we will have 8 farms from across Kawartha Lakes opening their doors from 10 am to 4 pm featuring cows, horses, pigs, alpacas, sheep, chickens, turkeys, pumpkins, apples, honey, and vegetables. Meet some of the farmers that grow our food and learn more about the different kinds of farming in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
New for this year event attendees can choose from hands on experiences like horse grooming, hand felting, and wool spinning or taste experiences like fresh vegetables, frozen meats, pumpkin bread, Thanksgiving cooking, and organic sausages.
Tickets for some experiences will be available in advance online. Remaining tickets for Experiences will be available at the tour site on event day.
Participating restaurants will be offering a prix fixe menu featuring local ingredients.
| Saddle Fitting Demonstration at F5 |
| At Valentia Equine Retraining Centre, join certified saddle fitter, Jim Ward, for a demonstration on horse saddles and tack equipment. Offered twice throughout the day, 11am and 1:30pm. Duration approximately 30 minutes. ($5) |
| Groom a Horse Experience at F5 |
| This interactive, hands-on activity is a must for every horse lover. Join us at Valentia Equestrian in the horse barn for a lesson on how to properly groom a horse. Learn and then try it yourself. Parent supervision and assistance may be required for some children. Offered twice throughout the day, 11:30am and 2pm.Duration approximately 25 minutes. ($5). |
| Alpaca Fibre Felting Workshop at F7 |
| Use your hands in an alpaca fibre felting workshop. Learn this unique craft using Alpaca fibre to create a felted soap to take home with you. Offered all day. Duration approximately 30 minutes. ($5). |
| Potato Digging Experience at F8 |
| At 11am watch potato digging by our tractor-drawn equipment, then pick a bag of potatoes to take home with you. Duration approximately 30 minutes. ($5). |
| Pick Your Own Garden Vegetable Experience at F8 |
| Join us in the field for a guided pick-your-own vegetable experience. Choose 2 items from: lettuce, carrots, beets, cabbages depending on availability. Just ask any of our volunteers for this experience anytime during the day. Duration approximately 20 minutes. ($5). |
Farm site descriptions
Download a printable PDF version of the 2018 host site description and map. Please contact Kelly Maloney 705-324-9411 extension 1208 to request an accessible version of this document.
F1: Organicfest at O'Brienview Organic Farm |
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Ongoing: View animals and poultry; learn about organics; taste organic meat & produce. Location: 688 Country Lane, Cameron 705-887-3974 www.obrienviewfarm.com Directions: On Hwy. 35 south of Hwy 121 junction, go west at Powles Rd., turn north onto Country Lane. From the north, take Glenarm Rd. to Country Lane (at the Hydro yard). Turn south about 4 km. Farm is on east side #688). |
F2: Sheepfest at Crow Hill Farm |
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Ongoing: Sheep in their pastures, wool spinning, educational displays, egg collecting Location: 35 Ranchers Road, Cameron 705-359-1376 crowhillcorriedales@gmail.com Directions: On Hwy 35 north of Lindsay, turn east on Hwy 34 - Long Beach Road. Turn left on the 2nd road on the left at the S curves, Ranchers Road. 1st farm on the left. |
F3: Pigfest at Three Forks Farm |
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Ongoing: We will have pigs in a front pasture and turkeys available for easy viewing, BBQ Sausages($). Location: 345 Colony Road, Bobcaygeon 705-931-5338 www.threeforksfarm.ca Directions: From Bobcaygeon, take Kawartha Lakes Road 36 south, and turn south onto Pigeon Lake Road. Turn right onto Colony Road. From Lindsay, take Pigeon Lake Road east and turn left onto Colony Road. We are number 345 on the left with a red gate. Come up our long driveway through the trees. |
F4: Dairyfest at Vosbrae Farms |
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Visit an active, working dairy farm milking 140 Holstein cows. The deVos' have a large family farm with approximately 1000 acres of cropland. You will see the dairy cow herd in their comfortable free-stall barn with a large rotary milking parlour. View the equipment needed to operate a modern dairy farm and have the chance to meet Maple for a hands-on milking experience. Ongoing: View Holstein dairy cattle, calves and farm equipment Location: 140 Skyline Road, Manilla 705-357-3150 Directions: From Hwy. 7 take either Simcoe Street or Kawartha Lakes Road 46 north to the 1st road - Skyline Road and turn (right - east from Simcoe Street or left - west from Kawartha Lakes Road 46). 140 Skyline Road is about half way (2 km) between Kawartha Lakes Road 46 and Simcoe Street on the south side of the road. |
F5: Horsefest at Valentia Equine Retraining Centre |
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Children's Paw Patrol themed forest maze & scavenger hunt with prizes for completion. Explore our walking trails, watch horse demonstrations 12:15 - 1:00, and take a mini equestrian lesson($). At 11am and 2:00pm join a certified saddle fitter for a demonstration on horse tack equipment & at 11:30am and 2:30pm join in learning to groom a horse ($5 each). Most is Wheelchair accessible, public washrooms available. Ongoing: Walking trails & maze, sawmill demonstration, kids crafts and activities, and riding skill demonstrations. Available for an additional fee: photo areas ($2); 10:30-2:30 mini equestrian lesson($5); Lunch and bake sale 11-2. Location: 188 Valentia Road, Little Britain 705-786-2226 www.valentiaequestrian.com Directions: From the four corners of Little Britain travel east, then from Little Britain Road turn south onto Valentia Road. Travel south past the Ramsey Road intersection, to number 188 on the east side of Valentia Road. |
F6: Pumpkinfest at Stellmar Farm |
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Wheelchair accessible property. Washroom available (not wheelchair accessible). Ongoing: Pumpkin painting, face painting, guessing the weight of a giant pumpkin, walk the corn labyrinth. Location: 136 Sandbar Road, Little Britain (east of Valentia) 705-786-0431 www.stellmarfarm.com Directions: Take Little Britain Road to Valentia Road and travel south into Valentia. Take Elm Tree Road east at the four corners. Sandbar Road is on the Right. Our farm is one km south on the left. Look for the pumpkins! |
F7: Alpacafest at Salem Alpacas |
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Ongoing: Spinning demos, hands-on alpaca wool activities, video presentations and alpacas of all colours and ages. Location: 363 Salem Road, Manilla 705-786-2023 www.salemalpacas.com Directions: From Hwy 7 take Elm Tree Road south past Little Britain Road. Or from Stellmar Farm and Valentia Equestrian, take Elm Tree Road east. |
F8: Veggiefest at Lunar Rhythm Gardens |
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At 11am watch the tractor digging potatoes then pick a bag of potatoes to take home with you ($5). Ask one of our volunteers for a guided pick-your-own vegetable experience - choose 2 items from lettuce, carrots, beets, or cabbages depending on availability($5). At 3pm watch Jessica with our heavy draft horses cultivating in the vegetable field! Fresh organic produce is available for purchase. Portable washroom facilities are available. Ongoing: : View the livestock, vegetable garden, hoop house, pick-your-own experiences and demonstrations, display boards, kid’s activities. Location: 253 Gray Road, Janetville 905-986-9612 www.csafarmdurhamkawartha.com Directions: From Hwy 7A west of Hwy 35, take Century Farm Road south to Gray Road & turn right |
Visit with Heritage Berkshire pigs, Belgian Blue crossed Black Angus cattle & calves, chickens, ducks and turkeys, all raised organically on our family farm. Stay for lunch to taste our famous sausage on a bun or hamburger. Bring a cooler to stock up on our frozen beef, pork, and chicken or fresh vegetables.
Visit our registered Corriedale sheep flock, a dual purpose breed for both meat and wool. See our honeybee yard & the honey room. Collect fresh eggs from our hen house.
Take a walking tour of our site to visit laying hens, turkey yard and pig pastures. Learn about how and why we raise our animals on pasture. We raise mixed heritage breed pigs (Berkshire, Hampshire, Tamworth) on rotational pastures. Kids can do an egg collecting activity and nature crafting. We will have our frozen chicken and pork cuts available for sale. Stay for our own BBQ sausage on a bun for lunch!
This registered not-for-profit, gives retired race horses a second chance. Visit with horses of all sizes in their paddocks. The animals enjoy snacking on apples and stale bread, which are acceptable to bring with you. *Please notify volunteers if you have brought anything for the animals.
See giant pumpkins and visit the craft shed at Stellmar Farm, which features a wide selection of pumpkins, squash, gourds, dried flowers, wreaths, fall crafts, gourd art, decorative corn, preserves and tasty pumpkin bread. Try your hand at pumpkin painting and guessing the weight of a giant pumpkin. Enjoy samples of pumpkin bread and warm cider. Perhaps even learn the secret behind growing giant pumpkins! Watch Thanksgiving-themed cooking demonstration & taste the creations.10:00 – Buttercup Squash Hummus, 11:00 - Creamy Pumpkin Soup, 12:00 - Pumpkin, Honey and Mascarpone in Filo Pastry, 1:00 – Butternut Squash Slaw, 2:00 – Naked Bear Pumpkin Seed Brittle. Recipe booklet available for purchase.
Alpacafest is one farm attraction that has something for the whole family to enjoy. There will be guided visits with the alpacas, a Master Spinner giving fibre demonstrations, educational displays, videos, kid’s colouring, photo opportunities and more. Learn more about this exotic animal through audio/visual displays on birthing, shearing and alpacas at play. Finely crafted finished articles made from the alpaca fibre will be available for sale. For an additional $5, take part in a 30 minute felting craft workshop available all day.
Tour the 15-acre Pro-Cert certified organic vegetable farm dedicated to growing 75 varieties of vegetables in the field and with high tunnels and greenhouses, powered by four heavy draft horses. Visit the cows & calves, pigs, miniature horses, and chickens. Visitors can see the cold storage, greenhouse and vegetable wash station.Farmers' Market site descriptions
M1: Lindsay Farmers' Market |
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Start your Farmfest weekend at the Farmers' Market in Lindsay. Celebrate the harvest by enjoying a Saturday morning tradition in downtown Lindsay, bringing you a large array of fresh food products and so much more. The Lindsay Farmers' Market runs Saturday from 7am to 1pm Location: Victoria Avenue north of Kent Street. 705-878-1392 www.lindsayfarmersmarket.ca |
Countryside attraction site descriptions
A1: Kawartha Dairy, Bobcaygeon |
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The Kawartha Dairy Company, a 100% Canadian family-owned and operated dairy based in Bobcaygeon since 1937, produces a wide range of milk products and, of course, their famous ice cream. Stop by the original Bobcaygeon location for a quick dairy snack while on the Farmfest tour. More than 45 flavours of ice cream, sherbert and frozen yogurt are available. Take a picture of your group with the almost life-size cow at 91 Prince Street, Bobcaygeon. 877-453-6455 www.kawarthadairy.com |
A2: Kawartha Dairy Barn, Lindsay |
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Stop by the Lindsay location of Kawartha Dairy for a quick snack while on the Farmfest tour. More than 45 flavours of ice cream, sherbert and frozen yogurt are available. 71 Russell Street, Lindsay 705-324-0352 www.kawarthadairy.com |
A3: The Kawartha Store, Fenelon Falls |
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Visit The Kawartha Store, an exciting new shop featuring gourmet foods, gifts and clothing designed and made in Canada. Try a variety of samples of unique, award-winning gourmet products. 30 Colborne Street, Fenelon Falls 705-887-9888 www.thekawarthastore.ca |
A4: KL Community Sale Barn Inc. |
| Featuring three live auctions starting at 9:00 am and continuing all day until all active sale rings have finished selling their livestock & farm items. Country kitchen restaurant & large farmers’ market offering fresh local fruit, vegetables, maple syrup, clothing, woodwork, furniture & farm supplies. Ongoing: Farmers Market, livestock & farm items auction. 580 Woodville Road, Woodville 705-439-4444 www.klcauction.ca |
Restaurants
Add a “Local Taste” to your day. Plan to stop for lunch at one of these restaurants offering Kawartha Farmfest local food prix fixe menu options.
| R1 - Olympia Restaurant Café & Bar |
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Greek shareable plates for two featuring local vegetables.
Greek Salad with local tomatoes, onions, lettuce, Ontario Feta and Greek Olive oil and Kalamata Olives from our family farm in Sparta, Greece, and Mediterranean Dips Platter made with local vegetables, Greek olive oil, served with grilled pita bread
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| R2 - Fresh FueLL |
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Build your own fresh, large salad or wrap featuring Ontario vegetables.
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| R3 - The Italian Hot Table |
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Farmfest Special Plate: Choose from Stuffed Peppers or Mushrooms, Zucchini Parmigiana and more!
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| R4 - Sweet Bottoms Coffee |
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Boxed lunch includes choice of sandwich, drink & dessert.
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Sponsors
| Thank you! |
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Kawartha Farmfest would not be possible without the tremendous effort put forth by our volunteer hosts. Special thanks to Kawartha Lakes Communications, Advertising and Marketing and Economic Development divisions for their support. We are indebted to all our partners. |
Related events
During your Kawartha Farmfest tour you may consider taking in these events or others which can be found in our calendar:
| September 27 - 29, 2018 - Bobcaygeon Fall Fair |
| Hours of operation: Saturday, from 8am - 5pm Location: 47 Mansfield Street, Bobcaygeon Telephone: 705-738-3445 Visit the Bobcaygeon Fair website |
| September 29, 2018 - Kinmount Farmers' Market |
| Hours of operation: Saturday, from 9am - 2pm Location: Austin Sawmill Heritage Park Telephone: 705-488-2612 Visit the Kinmount Farmers Market website |
| September 29 - 30, 2018 - Victoria County Studio Tour |
| Hours of operation: Saturday & Sunday, 10am - 5pm Location: throughout Kawartha Lakes Telephone: 705-887-2229 Visit the Victoria County Studio Tour website |
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