Visitors can sample made-on-the-spot chili, locally-pressed hot apple cider and home baked cupcakes as the Elora Farmers’ Market opens its winter market on Nov. 2 in the paddock building at Grand River Raceway.
On hand for the opening will be Eberhardt the Pig, a large puppet created by local artists Annerose and Jonathan Schmidt, the creative minds behind Puppets Elora; as well as the Victoria Park Seniors Centre’s Ukelele band and choir, and a bagpiper to lead people around the market.
Many of the market’s summer vendors return for the winter season, providing a variety of root, cold-weather and green house vegetables, apples and mushrooms, and preserves and pickles made from local produce, as well as baking, breakfast choices and coffee.
“If you love local food, this is the place to be,” says marketing committee member Barb Lee, one of the market’s founders. “You’ll find everything you need in a convenient location that’s warm and dry inside, and has plenty of free parking.”
Started in 2005, the Elora Farmers’ Market began in a small space beside what was then the Elora General Store, before outgrowing the side yard and moving to nearby Bissell Park, where it continues to add vendors and expand in the summer.
A winter season was added in 2010, and it’s moving closer to being a year-round market, with the winter season extended this year until May.
On opening day visitors will be able to watch Elora’s Peter Sloggard make chili from market ingredients and then sample the results – as well as sample hot apple cider from vendor Mervin Martin’s apple trees, and homemade mini-cupcakes from Ruth Shoemaker of Cumnock Foods near Alma.
Other special events, demonstrations and activities will be held throughout the season.
The market runs from 9am to 1pm every Saturday from Nov. 2 to May 3, at the Grand River Raceway, 7445 Wellington Road 21, just west of Wellington Road 7.
For more information on the Elora Farmers’ Market, visit www.elorafarmersmarket.com or email info@elorafarmersmarket.com.
