The weather has cooled down and leaves are beginning to turn reddish-brown, which indicates that harvest season is quickly approaching.

To celebrate the bounty of local food and produce, the first annual Richmond Harvest Festival will take place this Saturday (September 30) at Garden City Lands (between Garden City Road and Lansdowne Road, Richmond) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This inaugural free and family-friendly event will take place at a 136.5-acre park in the heart of the bustling Metro Vancouver region, which will showcase plenty of gourmet food as well as local farmers who can educate visitors about locally grown produce and agriculture.

Some of the festival’s programming includes a culinary stage that will feature live cooking demonstrations; a main stage for performances by local musicians and entertainers; a farmers and artisans marketplace that will offer fresh veggies, fruits, and hand-made products; art installations; and exhibits about Richmond’s agricultural past, present, and future, among others.

Richmond’s local food will be in the spotlight throughout the festival—chefs and food vendors will be providing everything from cranberry dishes to home-grown baked goods, and artisanal ice cream to local honey.

Local beer and wine (available to those 19 years and above, with 2 pieces of ID, and at least one government-issue identification), will be provided by Richmond craft breweries Britannia Brewing Company and Fuggles and Warlock Craftworks, as well as local winemakers Country Vines Winery and Canada Berries Enterprises.

Besides the tasty options that can be found throughout the event, it’s not a family-friendly outing if there aren’t activities to satisfy the youngest ones in the brood.

Children will be able to access a straw bale slide and wagon rides, take-home crafts, traditional harvest festival kid’s games, and the opportunity to learn about farming and growing food.

"The first annual Richmond Harvest Fest is a great opportunity to celebrate our commitment to being a sustainable, diverse and vibrant community, as well as Canada’s 150^th anniversary,” said Richmond mayor Malcolm Brodie, in a press statement.

There will be no onsite parking at Garden City Lands, but parking can be found at Lansdowne Centre (5300 No. 3 Road, Richmond) and a shuttle bus service will be available. A bike valet will also be set up in a safe and secure guarded area located at the festival’s entrance.

For more information and a full schedule demonstrations and live performances, click here.