Bala Cranberry Festival

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! As I write this the sun is warm, the air is crisp, the wind is playing in the leaves and best of all my house is filled with wonderful aromas. Pumpkin pie, kapusta, turkey, the works! Having studied psychology I know that the parts of your brain responsible for scent are also responsible for memory and emotions. It’s not surprising that when I smell all that awesome food and the clean autumn air that I feel like a million bucks. Fall has always been a happy time for me, I have memories of friends, family, and of travel.

The place that stands out to me the most at this time of year is Bala, specifically the cranberry festival it holds each year. I can still remember asking Dad to lend me some money for my first helicopter ride, being drawn to the river by the sound of bagpipes, feeling the ground rumble beneath me as a train roared by not five feet away, all this amid dazzling fall colours while the scent of fruity cider and fried food permeates the crisp air. The best part by far? Dogs are welcome!

You’ll find this little town just two hours north of Toronto. You can visit any time you like, but the festival is held the weekend after thanksgiving. This year it’s been postponed because of Covid, but I’m really looking forward to the day it can be held again!

When they do reopen and you get a change to go, be sure to bring a warm coat which has a windbreaker or waterproofing, some gloves or mittens, and some good walking shoes. Rain or shine the festival happens! Be sure to bring some cash because not all vendors have the necessary equipment to accept cards.

The main festival happens on Maple Ave. If I remember correctly entrance to this part of the festival cost just a little over $5 dollars. Here you’ll find a few rides, carnival food stalls, and the entire street is lined with crafters’ stalls. The church and arenas are usually also full of locally produced artisan products. You can find anything from necklaces, winter accessories, toys and accessories for dogs and cats, preserved foods and cheeses, and fudge! The parking lot of the Freshmart is similarly filled, though I find I usually find a lot more clothing here. You’ll also usually find a vendor here selling cranberry sausage. They’re delicious, but if you can wait, there’s something even better waiting for you a little further on up the road!

If you can wait even longer have a stroll down Grey street and have a look around the Curling club. You’ll find more artisans here, in the past these ones seemed to focus more on chocolate, books, and hand crafted soaps and bathbombs. What more could a girl ask for?

From here it might look like the festival is coming to a close but keep walking and you’ll come to Portage Landing Bala. It’s a good place to stop and rest, get some ice-cream or fudge. Don’t fill up though! Keep walking!

You’ll cross a bridge with a beautiful view and if you want there’s a little church on the other side which usually has some cute northern Ontario themed knick-knacks and fabric work. Blankets, pillows, oven mitts, tea towels, this is where you’ll find them.

Here you’ll turn onto the street the church is on called Bala Falls road, and walk until you get to another church, Trinity All Saints. Stop to take in another view of the falls, that is if you aren’t already following your nose to the source of the delicious smell. Go up to what looks like a garage to put your order in. A peameal bacon sandwich with cheese and cranberry sauce, a cup of soup, and a hot cranapple cider to wash it down is my personal preference.

There are sometimes a couple of stalls after the church but for the most part you’ve hit the end of the festival. It’s time to head back towards Maple ave, but this time you’re going to catch one of the school buses that comes roughly every fifteen minutes during the festival.

The bus will take you out to Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh. This is where you can learn how cranberries are grown, harvested, and packaged. They have a little tractor that will take you around the marsh and a guide will tell you all about the marsh. This is also where they have the helicopter rides too, just saying. The Johnston store offers a wide selection of cranberry products, with everything from wine to candles. Personally I like their cranberry tea, and their chocolate covered cranberries make for a nice treat too. This is also a good time to pick up some freshly harvested cranberries for your cranberry sauces. Careful, they’re heavy!

In the spirit of thanksgiving, take a moment to enjoy the moment you’re in. Smell the air. Feel the ground beneath you. Create a good memory, one you’ll be thankful for.

Wash your hands, wear a mask, and stay safe gentle readers!