Hampered by pandemic restrictions for the past two years, Meaford’s Big Fall Weekend has returned.
Throughout the month of September we have enjoyed the many scarecrow displays erected by volunteers for the annual Scarecrow Invasion & Family Festival, which will be held on Friday, September 30, followed by the always popular Apple Harvest Craft Show which will return to the community centre and curling club on Saturday, October 1, and Sunday, October 2.
Before either of those long-held and very popular events, the Municipality will be hosting the official unveiling of Meaford’s new Indigenous crosswalk as part of celebrating National Truth and Reconciliation Day. The event is to take place at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, September 30, at the newly painted crossing outside Meaford Hall.
If you’ve been in the urban area of Meaford in the past few weeks you have no doubt noticed the numerous scarecrow displays married with cornstalk decorations embellishing the lamp posts, signalling that the town is ready for this year’s Scarecrow Invasion & Family Festival, which is set to kick off at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 30, with the traditional Scarecrow Parade.
As is customary, the hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of onlookers will follow the parade to the Rotary Harbour Pavilion where the family festival will kick into high gear.
While the Scarecrow Invasion, with its obvious presence in the community thanks to more than 300 scarecrows on display, might be the traditional headline grabber of the Big Fall Weekend, once the festival is over, the remainder of the weekend belongs to the annual Apple Harvest Craft Show, which will be held once again in the arena and the curling club on Saturday and Sunday.
The huge craft show is another annual event that has grown in size and popularity over its nearly 40-year history. From its humble beginnings in 1983, the Apple Harvest Craft Show has grown to be one of the largest in southern Ontario. It attracts roughly 200 artisans who feature a wide range of arts and crafts items, with a little something for everyone. The event has become a popular early holiday shopping destination for many in search of unique gifts for special people on their lists.
The big event begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, and the doors will be open until 6 p.m. On the second day of the craft show, Sunday, the doors will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
If big events aren’t your scene, don’t forget that the Net Shed is still open, and with the cooler weather approaching, now is a good time to stock up on books for the winter. What better way to do so than to support the Friends of the Meaford Library?
While Meaford’s urban core will be buzzing with activity this weekend, our rural areas are the perfect place for a weekend drive in order to take in the autumn colours that have been creeping in over the past week. This is also the perfect time of year for hikers to hit our many local trails for an outing with nature, and away from the buzz in town.
Whatever you choose to do this weekend, enjoy the transition from summer to autumn, and enjoy the weekend, as Meaford says goodbye to summer and welcomes autumn to the neighbourhood!
