Yara Community Gardens is hosting its Pumpkin Harvest Festival again this year, with tons of family-friendly attractions available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 21.
Everything will be set up at the gardens on the 1000 block of Gray Avenue, including treats available from the Queen of Caramel and the Cone Artist — which will be donating a portion of their proceeds back to Hunger in Moose Jaw.
Dance Fitness with Kyra will be present, offering workshops and some interactive stage shows to get the kids moving. Naturally Abby’s Kindermusik will also be performing some shows, and Derf the Clown will be wandering around to entertain.
Princesses of the King will have costumed Anna and Elsa from the Disney favourite, Frozen, to meet and greet their fans.
The gardens will once again be hosting its produce market, selling pumpkins and other produce grown and donated by community gardeners, and a chili lunch that is available by donation.
All of those proceeds will also go back to Hunger in Moose Jaw.
This will be the ninth year Yara Community Gardens has hosted the festival, with its creation coinciding with the year it expanded to the Grey Avenue location.
Garden co-ordinator Jeremy Zacharias hears lots of excitement from the gardeners each year to put on the Festival, as they enjoy being able to interact with their community.
“And of course celebrate the harvest season,” added Zacharias. “(The gardeners) look forward to this event every year, and it's such a privilege getting to garden with them and work alongside them all year round.”
The event is also a great way to expose the community to Yara Community Gardens and Hunger in Moose Jaw, to create some buzz about the sustainable food initiatives and other programs.
“And it's also to be able to raise some funds for Hunger in Moose Jaw and all the wonderful, great things that they do in our community,” said Zacharias.
There is no admission fee for the event, and Zacharias invites all of Moose Jaw to venture out.
“Come on out and enjoy,” said Zacharias. “We've got some great weather coming our way and it's just a great, fun, family event.”
