All during the summer months, the Innisfil Farmers’ Market was held outdoors in the south parking lot at the Innisfil Recreation Complex.
But summer is over; winds have shaken the last leaves from the trees, and Innisfil has seen its first snowfall.
“We’ve moved indoors,” said Market Manager, Jaime Grant, “and it’s been very well-received.”
The Innisfil Farmers’ Market still takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays, but the vendors are now located inside the recreation complex, in the main hall - vendors like Lakeview Gardens, Innisfil Creek Honey, Pilliteri Wines, Thor Farm Natural Meats, Stone Horse Farm, and Grant’s own Summer Oven bakery.
Moving inside isn’t the only adjustment to the colder weather. “We have a lot more hot food. We have soups and chilis,” said Grant, as well as food trucks setting up just outside the south doors of the complex.
Planning has already begun for the holiday season, with special artisan events scheduled for Dec. 5, 12, and 19. The Innisfil Farmers' Market is partnering with the Innisfil Arts, Culture & Heritage Council to welcome “actual artists and unique one-of-a-kind” works, Grant said, and there will be free activities for children.
“We’ve got school choirs coming out, we have music schools bringing their best students,” said Grant. “We’re going to fill the halls with holiday music and cheer the whole month!”
Grant herself is getting ready to begin her holiday baking – mincemeat tarts, fern tarts, Christmas boxes of cookies “for teachers and friends – lots of specialty things we don’t make the rest of the year,” she said.
The market will also be thinking of others during the holiday season – and will be accepting donations of non-perishable food for the Innisfil Food Bank, starting on Dec. 5.
The first indoor session of the Bradford Farmers’ Market will take place this Saturday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – inside the BWG Public Library at 425 Holland St. West. Favourite vendors will be back with fresh, locally-grown produce, preserves, local honey, fresh baked goods and more, plus crafts and seasonal items.
The Polish Baker, Ryszard Surdyk was at the Innisfil Farmers’ Market on Thursday and will be in Bradford on Saturday, with “strudels and donuts, pretzels and rye bread – and mushroom-onion giant dumplings!”
Additional indoor markets are planned in Bradford on Nov. 30, Dec. 14, and Dec. 21.
