The inaugural Heritage Fall Fair takes place Sunday, Oct. 4 from noon to 9 p.m. and promises to be a bushel full of fun for the whole family.
It may sound crazy to have a gumboot event in the actual fall, but, that is just how crazy the folks are down at the Big Yellow Merville Hall.
This event celebrates the land of plenty in the Comox Valley. With the abundance of growers, tours and events, this area is fast becoming its very own Tuscany.
And the Merville Hall site shows promise as a future hub of activity for the surrounding area agri-tourism region – the Big Yellow Hall, 100-year-old Stolen Church, Manse, three acres of land – all key ingredients that will add value for the destination.
So mark your calendars and plan to attend this day-long event.
From 1 to 5 p.m. there will be plenty of growers on the Big Yellow Merville Hall grounds.
Farmers from around the Valley will be there showcasing and selling their product and you can whet your whistle while strolling around and sampling beverages from Gladstone Brewery, 40 Knots Winery and Beaufort Estate Winery.
There will be plenty of fun throughout the grounds with entertainers, displays of heritage machinery and classic autos, and maybe a horse drawn hayride.
Local artists, authors and historians will recount the history of the area. And there will be old-fashioned contests such as sack, three-legged and egg-on-a-spoon races, and a scavenger hunt that will keep families vying for unusual prizes.
A mighty Tug ‘o’ War between the Bonnie Black Creekers and the Mighty Mervillites will take place to determine which community will win the treasured Golden Gumboot trophy.
As the sun sets, there will be plenty of talent on stage in the Merville Hall.
The local variety show will keep the audience entertained from 6 to 9 p.m. with music, comedy, and dance. And in between acts, Harold Macy, the Bard of Merville, will have an endless parade of poets and story tellers to keep all amused.
All performers, young and old, are invited to strut their stuff. And “entertainers from away” will be made citizens of Merville/Black Creek for the day so that they can legally participate.
Everyone is invited to attend the Heritage Fall Fair at the Big Yellow Merville hall.
Old time prices will be in effect. For just $10, farmers can sign up to reserve a table.
Folks who have heritage equipment and items to display can have a space for free. And the evening Variety Show is $5 for adults or $10 for the whole family.
Those who wish to volunteer their time or ideas, or to reserve a table, display space or spot in the talent show, can contact Dawn at dawn.ringrose@shaw.ca or Craig at seabankmars@shaw.ca