The Farmland Festival is back for its sixth year, making its return to Ferme de Fardoche in Godmanchester. For arts and culture lovers and those who are curious to learn, this event is a great way to experience some of the diversity and talent in the region.
After a year away, the festival is returning home to its usual site, which is also the location where the TV show, Passe-Partout, was filmed. Festival director Chadi Alhelou says, “As usual, the festival celebrates cultural diversity in the region. So, we’ll have several groups, artists and artisans who will exhibit and perform during the weekend of September 26 and 27.”
The festival was originally announced as a three-day event with the Friday being for students, but the plan has since changed to only have programming on Saturday and Sunday.
Each year features a new set of artists and artisans to enjoy. Alhelou says, “Our family is always growing,” and that there is something new each year. “We’re giving out apples and other farm-fresh fruit to people for free. And we definitely have food stalls, we have games for kids, entertainment, performers from all kinds of backgrounds. We’re always trying to diversify, to bring in people.”
This year will also be the first time the festival features Bollywood dancers. There will also be Persian dancers and an Indigenous dance group from Valleyfield.
This event is a great way to celebrate diversity and bring different cultures together as well as regional awareness. Alhelou says, “There are a lot of immigrants who don’t know our region well enough. It’s like a hidden gem because people know a little about places like Mont-Tremblant, Saint-Sauveur, and the Laurentians, but it seems like the southwestern part of the Montérégie is overlooked, or not well-known enough.”
“We’re always trying to bring something positive,” he adds.
Admission to the event is free, and all ages are welcome. For more information, visit festivalterreferme.ca.