Michelle Grenier was thoroughly thrilled with Halcyon’s second Annual Harvest Festival this year, from the blue sky all the way down to the veggies pulled from Kootenay dirt for sale from their vendors.
“The weather could not have been more perfect,” Grenier raved, “considering the dreary forecast.”
Apples were the theme for the festival, and apples were found all around.
“We had 300 pounds of apples for our old fashioned apple press,” Grenier told this reporter, who was sorry she had missed it.
“Fresh pressed apple juice was being served up for only a dollar a glass.”
The pomaceous culinary delights didn’t end there. An apple pie contest had ten delicious entries coming from both locals and guests staying at the resort, each with their own secret recipe for the pastry-encased fruit dessert. Six judges selected at random named Jan Leeson, the Kingfisher chef’s mother, as the big apple winner. Second place went to Bev Christiansen, and third went to another member of the award-winning easy-bake Leeson family, Dylan.
While his mother and brother were busy preparing pies, chef Tyler Leeson had been busy cooking a locally raised pig from Legendary Meats in the Slocan Valley. At 120 pounds, the pig was a large feature of the festival, and one thoroughly enjoyed, because there wasn’t a scrap of a leftover to be seen.
After the stuffing of the pig, attendees relaxed into to the live music furnished by Caelen Starblanket La Rocque, Aidan McClaren-Caux, Terry Goodfellow and Jesse Booth.
Folks could browse the vendors’ wares, which included goods from Revelstoke’s Crescendo and from Andy, the Intentional Peasant.
“We are always trying to increase and support the use of local product and produce,” Grenier said, who was very happy that the vendors had come out to support this local festival.
Baked goods of the non-competitive variety were up for grabs at the charitable bake table. Donated by staff from Halcyon, the goods raised close to $300, which was split between P.A.L.S. and the Food Bank.
“All in all for our second year running this festival we could not have asked for much more,” mused Grenier, “This is a real blend of tourist and community involvement. We were at full occupancy for the weekend and received a lot of positive feedback from the guests staying at our resort.”
Energized by the positive reviews, Grenier is looking forward to the next Harvest Festival, as is this reporter, who is sorry she missed this one.