Richmond's Farm Fest returns to Garden City Lands Aug. 10

This year’s Farm Fest will be a window to Richmond’s early farming history. 

There will be a number of interactive displays at the festival, such as rope tying and log cutting, which will be put on by Fort Langley’s B.C. Farm Museum, said City of Richmond spokesperson Clay Adams.

There will also be a food demonstration stage, where a chef will showcase pickling, canning, jamming and preserving, added Adams, all of which are practices used historically.

Visitors will also have the chance to view the 1916 Savage Farm steam tractor and a photo gallery of early farming methods in Richmond, and Kwantlen Polytechnic University will demonstrate modern plowing techniques, showing how small-scale urban agriculture works in the Lower Mainland, said Adams.

The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 10 at the 136-acre Garden City Lands.

Farm Fest supports agricultural sustainability and local food systems initiatives, and residents and visitors will be able to purchase locally-grown produce at the festival’s farmer’s market.

There will also be farm animals, live entertainment, community displays and a children’s area.

Visitors can explore the Garden City Lands, which features a natural area and perimeter trail for cyclists and pedestrians. Kwanlen Polytechnic University’s farm is also located at the site, which has a geodesic dome greenhouse, corn maze and ploughing demonstrations.

 While there isn’t any parking on-site for visitors, there is plenty available at Lansdowne Centre, located on No. 3 Road next to Lansdowne Road. Parking is also available at the Colonel Sherman Armory at No. 4 Road and Alderbridge Way.

There will be continuous shuttle bus service from these locations during the festival, from 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.