A treasure hunt for kids, button-making with the Innisfil ideaLAB, an array of fall produce and a pumpkin carving contest.
It was all part of the celebration of Thanksgiving, Harvest Fest, and the final open air market of the year at the Innisfil Farmers' Market on Thursday.
And it was a perfect autumn day. Shoppers came out to buy fresh produce and local crafts, enjoy fresh apple cider, and get inspiration for their own Halloween pumpkins at the pumpkin carving contest, which this year attracted a record number of entries.
“We had daycares, children, professional artists, councillors, mayors, the fire department, police department, and a school enter,” said market manager Jaime Grant. “We really hit different parts of the community.”
The entries were remarkable. There was the Frankenstein pumpkin carved by artist R. Murray Haist, with eyes that followed the judges wherever they stood. It won a medal for 'unique medium'.
The tribute to Edgar Allan Poe by Coun. Donna Orsatti was dotted with spiders and skeletons, and topped with a raven. It won the prize for scariest pumpkin.
South Simcoe Police Chief Andrew Fletcher entered a pumpkin police officer, complete with badge and handcuffs, winning a medal for most innovative.
The ‘funny’ category was won by Tom Bouhs, for a pumpkin with googly eyeballs; ‘cutest’ went to Treasure Garden DayCare; most colourful was won by Sue Trottier’s painted pumpkin; most original went to Coun. Rob Nicol’s Ghost pumpkin that, er, regurgitated its Halloween candy.
And the entry of Coun. Carolyn Payne won both the creative category and judges’ choice.
The trophy for best overall carved pumpkin went to the intricately carved entry of Tina Lund.
As shoppers watched, volunteer judges Mike Park and Mike Denyer awarded the medals in nine categories, and the trophy for the best overall – but expressed one regret. There was no separate category for pumpkins created by kids.
“Next year we’ll have a kids’ category,” promised Grant.
The Innisfil Farmers’ Market now moves indoors, inside the Innisfil Recreational Complex at Innisfil Beach Road and Yonge Street, Thursdays from 1-6 p.m., until Dec.19.
Vendors are hoping that their ‘regulars’ will come out, to purchase the local produce, honey, baked goods and other products that they have enjoyed over the summer months.
“We’ve got lost of produce,” said Gaynor Radcliffe, of Lakeview Gardens. “We’ve got lots of stuff in the greenhouses.”
