Farmpark’s FarmFest is back!
By Mimi Vanderhaven
Sometimes the best things in life really are free.
For a scrumptious little taste of all the fabulous happenings at Lake Metroparks Farmpark, don’t miss FarmFest on Saturday, July 10, from noon to 8 p.m.
Where else on earth could you experience live bands, smothered slabs of ribs, beer and wine, horse cart and wagon rides, pony rides, demonstrations by horses and border collies, animal encounters and hands-on activities like milking cows and shelling corn?
Mimi sat down with Farmpark Administrator Lee Homyock recently to get the scoop on this year’s enticing itinerary.
“We’re thrilled to move the event up to our new Hilltop facility, which overlooks the fields of the park,” he says. “This is our seventh year. Each fest gets bigger and bigger. The last one saw more than 3,000 attendees.”
A sure-to-delight highlight will be the Ice Carver versus Wood Carver Competition at noon.
Throughout the day, enjoy food and live music, featuring the bands Dan McCoy, Blue Evolution and Eastwind, as well as self-guided tours of the gardens and a Hydroponics tour.
And the week after—Friday, July 16, through Sunday, July 18—the Farmpark is hosting Milk & Honey Weekend, with a kickoff dinner pairing gourmet fare made from (you guessed it) milk and honey with local wines and beers, as well as live demonstrations so you can discover the world of milk, cheese and butter, as well as the role bees play in pollination through live demonstrations, garden tours and sampling.
Outside of the jam-packed season of special events, any day is a perfect day to while away at the Farmpark. It has just resumed full operations six days a week. If you’re a Lake County resident, admission is free on the first Sunday and third Tuesday of every month.
Lake Metroparks Farmpark is located at 8800 Euclid Chardon Road (Route 6) in Kirtland. There is no registration or tickets required to enjoy FarmFest. Pets are not allowed. Lake Metroparks provides more than 3.5 million visitors with countless recreational and educational experiences at diverse facilities. Visit LakeMetroparks.com for more information.