There’s no better place for a Harvest Festival than the Grain Elevator Park this weekend, but the only grains on site will be provided in liquid form, courtesy of an Edmonton brewer.
The Harvest Festival is Arts and Heritage St. Albert’s annual way to celebrate the end of summer tradition of bringing in the crops. It’s also a fond farewell party as the grain elevator site closes off for public access for the remainder of the year.
Newly minted museum director (and former program manager) Shari Strachan is excited about offering another opportunity to help local residents explore our history in a fun and family-friendly way on what is typically a fair-weather day.
“We have been very fortunate in the past to have great weather. People come out and just enjoy a day in the sunshine … I hope,” she laughed, “but also just enjoy doing some of those old-fashioned things. This is our last hurrah for the summer and we want to celebrate it.”
“It’s also to invite our community onto a site that is theirs. It belongs to the city so it belongs to the community.”
In the past, attendance figures generally vary from 650 to more than 1,000.
Historic interpreters will take visitors on a guided tour of the two provincially designated grain elevators: the silver 1906 Brackman Ker/Alberta Grain Company Elevator and the green 1929 Alberta Wheat Pool Elevator. They reopened two years ago after undergoing extensive renovations and restorations. Strachan said that the structures are in good shape to host the festival for generations to come.
“They’re beautiful! They’re ready to stand for another hundred years.”
There will be a whole host of fun activities and performances that you can enjoy with your family. Stephen and Trevor Tchir were originally scheduled to play together as usual but Stephen confirmed on Friday that he had accidentally double-booked himself that afternoon. Instead, Trevor will entertain the attendees by performing the brothers’ folksy country music, joined by their regular bassist Steve Badach and fiddle player-slash-singer Michelle Sabourin. They’re a crowd favourite, Strachan added.
There will also be games and activities – including a scavenger hunt – to keep the kids busy and cheerful. They can also take Mom and Dad along for horse and wagon rides around the park.
If that wasn’t enough, Russ Finlay and the ELF Stock Dogs of Westerose will return by popular demand to do some demonstrations. Members of 4-H might also be on site for their own demonstrations but details are still being worked out.
Some local food and craft vendors will display and sell their wares at a mini market. Quilters and weavers will also have their own demonstrations, plus local painter Samantha Williams-Chapelsky will be doing a live and interactive painting as well.
Adults can also enjoy a beer tasting courtesy of Alley Kat Brewery. Keep in mind that it’s only a tasting, not a beer tent. Strachan reiterated that it’s a family friendly event, not a romp.
“It’s a great way to celebrate fall close to home.”
The festival takes place from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15. Admission is free but donations to Arts and Heritage are gratefully accepted.
The St. Albert Grain Elevator Park is located at 4 Meadowview Drive, just off of Mission Avenue.
For more information, call the Musée Héritage Museum at 780-459-1528 or visit www.museeheritage.com.
