It's time to celebrate our local farmers and the land that the Squamish community uses and cherishes. And along with the return of the Branckendale Fall Fair comes a renewed focus on saving its long held location, the Brackendale Farmers Institute Park. The Brackendale Fall Fair returns on Saturday, Sept. 6 for its one-day celebration of local food, talent and fun. Held in a park fondly known as "The Heart of Brackendale" by advocates seeking to protect it from development, the fair will be a one-day feast for everyone's eyes, ears and taste buds. Over 60 vendors will gather underneath large tents to display and sell their fresh, locally grown produce and products. Onions, eggs, honey, zucchini, broccoli and potatoes are just some of the goods that will be available for attendees to purchase and ogle.This is the fair's eighth year at the Farmers Institute Park, but it may be their last if developers have their way. Over the past few years Thor Froslev, the fair's organizer, and others who helped "put the park together" have been fighting council and B.C.'s government to protect the park from being developed for a residential market."You can't tear out the heart of Brackendale," said Froslev, who will be handing out leaflets during the fair to help raise awareness of the park's importance to the community."That park is really dear to us." Despite the politics, Froslev is excited about this year's fair. "We can't even accommodate all the vendors that want to come in," he said. "They all want to come because this is where they sell the most."The fair opens at 10 a.m. and it is practically bustling with activity from the moment it begins to the moment it ends at 5 p.m. Along with the parade that includes pipers and the RCMP, there will be the traditional fair entertainment as well.For the wee ones under the age of five, there will be the Needle in the Haystack activity, which challenges the youngsters to dig through an enormous pile of hay, searching for the "needle," a coloured chopstick. While the squeals of delight are often pleasure enough, there will be prizes for all the treasure-hunters.And making its return for the first time in four years is mini golf - an ideal activity for five-to-eight year olds. For eight-to-13 year olds, there are zucchini races. "The kids drill holes and put on wheels, then race them," said Froslev. "They love it."For kids and adults there will also be face painting, farm animals to pet, and free hay rides, which are always full."We just bought a big tractor and painted it up all nicely," said Froslev.In addition to the fresh food that the vendors will have, there will be hot dogs, hamburgers and ice cream to satisfy everyone's appetite for traditional fair food.Cam Salay, the fair's music organizer, has lined up many local acts to hit the stage and keep the place hopping."We're putting the stage together and trying to get as many performers to come out as possible," said Salay.Carolyn Grass, Bob Phillion and Salay are performers the regular crowds will recognize. New to the lineup this year are locals Rick Morgan, Carley Erin and Rita Kyle. The music will consist of everything from country, to rock, to folk, to soul, said Salay.For more information, visit brackendaleartgallery.com/FallFair.html.
