TheBulletin.ca Journal of Downtown Toronto
HarvestFest is Harbourfront Centre’s way of ushering in the crisp autumn season to the city. HarvestFest Sunday, October 8 and Monday, October 9 with host Tricia Williams offers Torontonians and waterfront visitors a chance to celebrate our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in a traditionally current and imaginative way with events and performances that embrace this inspiring change of season. As part of our Harbourfront Centre heritage there is something for the whole family to enjoy from upbeat global music performances to traditional folkloric dance presentations, pony rides and contests of pumpkin-carving, gord-tossing, apple-seed spitting and nabbing of apples-on-a string. There is a seasonal food demonstration for adults and mask-making for the kids. Admission is Free!
An exhibit of traditional and contemporary Quilts from Waterloo County and Area Quilt Festival Collection are on display Sunday and Monday in York Quay’s, Marilyn Brewer Community Space while Pony rides ($2 a ticket) for the kids take place throughout the day. The dare-devilish, Agility performing antics of EyeSpy Border Collies entertain with tricks showcasing their leaping abilities, while folkloric dance troupes show great footwork on stage October 8 and 9 in and around Harbourfront Centre’s York Quay Centre.
Music is essential for keeping spirits lively both days as Gypsy swing group Club Django at 4 p.m. on the Toronto Star Stage both Sunday and Monday and Celtic ensemble Fig For A Kiss perform at 12:30 p.m. Monday.
Dance performers Folklorico Flilipino Canada, Irie Omo Afro-Cuban Drum and Dance Ensemble along with Desna Ukranian Dance entertain in the programme Harvest Dances from Around the Globe takes place Sunday and Monday beginning at 2 p.m.on the Toronto Star Stage.
Food demos on Sunday are a Harbourfront Centre tradition and an essential part of the weekend, so what better than chef Christian Pritchard providing a 30-minute demonstration making seasonal, holiday-time desserts Sunday at 2 p.m. and 3:30 in the World Café area.
There is more for the kids as Red Pepper Spectacle Arts help kids in creating and making their very own MASK to take home!
The weekend outing might include a stroll along the waterfront promenade for a view of autumn horizons by the lake with a possibility of browsing or shopping at BOUNTY for finely-crafted, one-of-a-kind, handmade arts and crafts. Visitors can also check out the Visual Arts on display at Harbourfront Centre’s York Quay Gallery which includes Fifteen Restless Nights, e-poetry project Astres/Stars/Goleuadau, textile works and abstraction in Lisa Klapstock’s Picture 1-Toronto.
Check www.harbourfrontcentre.com for all the activity updates for the Thanksgiving weekend.
Music concerts
Harvest dances from around the globe
Visual arts
An exhibit of traditional and contemporary quilts
The Amy Hallman Snyder Purchase Award is selected from entries to the Ontario Juried Quilt Show. The Waterloo County & Area Quilt Festival is committed to assembling a collection of quilts as a dynamic and permanent record of quilting in Ontario. A fund was established by the family of Amy Hallman Snyder to support this award in her memory.
www.quiltcapitalfestival.com
Food and fun contests and activities
Chef Pritchard is back! This time tantalizing our test buds with his version of Harvest deserts. YUM!
www.bistrolicious.ca
The Great Pie Eating Contest-Hosted by Comedienne Tricia Williams Monday October 9, 3:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.mBack by popular demand! Members of the public and invited “eaters” compete to eat the most pie within the set time limit, with hands tied behind back. Trophy and prize awarded to the winner. Don’t miss it!
To register for pie-eating please contact Angela at alewis@harbourfrontcentre.com or 416-952-0639
Jack-o-lantern: Harbourfront Centre’s Pride Sunday October 8, 12:00p.m-5:00p.m and Monday October 9, 12:00 p.m-5:00 p.mCome and see the Pumpkins carved from our very own Harbourfront Centre staff! Some silly, some sad, some scary… First exhibition of it’s kind. Come see if the staff has the creative touch!!
Visit the World Café for perogies, harvest soup, potato pancakes and more! Oh my! Come and feast on the bounty of savory harvest goodies guaranteed to warm your heart.
Definite kids’ activities
First time to Harbourfront Centre! Eye Spy Border Collies is here to give one of their famous Agility trial demonstrations! Owner Grant Boudreault and his dogs have been competing all over the nation. Be amazed as these Rapid Rovers and Grant share their love and talents! Come on out and see some of the swiftest, smartest canines in all of Canada!
Zoom! Red Pepper Spectacle Arts Children’s Crafts: Pumpkin masquerade masks and hats Sculpture Court on York Quay Center Grounds Sunday October 8, 12:00- 5:00 p.m and Monday October 9, 12:00- 5:00 p.mFun, fun, fun! Red Pepper brings their expertise with children and fun learning. Always a great and exciting way to get the creative juices going!
Zoom! The Harvest Olympics Kid Zone Tent/ Anne Tindal Lawn on York Quay Center Grounds Sunday October 8: Noon- Watermelon Seed Spitting 1 p.m.- Apple on String 2 p.m.- Pumpkin Races Monday October 9: Noon – Gord Toss 1 p.m.- Apple on a String 2 p.m. – Bean relay raceFun activities and games for the whole family to enjoy! Prizes and ribbons to the winners! On your mark, get set, GO!
Pony Rides!! Ann Tindal Orchard Sunday October 8, 12:00 p.m-5:00 p.m and Monday October 9, 12:00 p.m-5:00 p.m $2 per ticket (Ride)ZOOM! Family Sundays features a variety of hands-on activities, concerts, tours of our many art exhibitions and more!
ZOOM! Room Activities— Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., families are invited to the ZOOM! Room, a fun interactive space. The ZOOM! Room features an interactive puppet area where kids stage their own productions on our beautiful, hand-painted puppet stage. Working in partnership with International Readings at Harbourfront Centre, the ZOOM! Room also features the International Readings: Children’s Reading Library, a cozy space where kids can read from a great selection of children’s books from around the world. The library features books in their original language.
Gallery Kids—The entire family can engage in exploring contemporary art! Gallery Kids combines facilitated tours of Harbourfront Centre’s galleries followed by hands-on interactive activities. It’s all a family friendly discovery of contemporary art. Families must meet in the ZOOM! Room at 2 p.m. to begin the gallery tour, afterwards they return to the ZOOM! Room for a creative activity that relates to the gallery’s exhibition.
