Alberta Open Farm Days are just around the corner, taking place throughout the province this weekend. 

Nicola Doherty, Marketing Coordinator at Open Farm Days, said one of the highlights this year is the increased number of culinary events for people to experience. 

“We have 21 culinary events this year, as well as more farms participating this year. We have over 150 farms involved, and that goes anywhere from bison farms to meateries to U-Picks- it really runs the whole gambit of different farms and producers all over the province,” Doherty said. 

On August 17th and 18th, farms, ranches and ag-tourism groups open their gates and invite visitors to see live demonstrations, enjoy a variety of culinary experience and support these  home-growers and producers in a face-to-face environment. 

In the Lacombe area, people can check out Blindman Breweries, Buit Dairies Ltd., Doornenbal Dairy Ltd., Flying Cross Ranch, Hidden Valley Garden U-Pick and Holmehus Antiques, where a high tea event is being held this year.  

Many of the farms and producers offer places and activities for children, from animal interactions to play spaces and informational sessions. 

Alberta Open Farm Days isn’t just about the food, but the experiences of farm life and creating a better connection and understanding of agricultural roots in the area. For city-dwellers, it’s a great way to engage with the surrounding Central Alberta communities and connect directly with local food and beverage producers. 

“There is such a variety in the farms that are participating,” Doherty said. “There is everything from meateries and honey operations, to alpaca and sheep farms.”

Alberta Open Farm days has been running for the past seven years, but farms across the country have been participating since as early as 2001.

Several of the activities require pre-booking, so head to albertafarmdays.ca to book your tour and culinary experience today.