Smoky Lake Fall Market a Popular Destination

Smoky Lake Fall Market a Popular Destination

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

Summerlike temperatures positively affected the overall success of the Smoky Lake Fall Market on October 3.

It was plus 21 degrees Celsius for most of the day. The event, hosted by the Smoky Lake Agricultural Society, featured a variety of family-friendly activities including the farmer’s market, a scarecrow contest, art walk, spinning wheel demonstration, displays, and garage sales.

There were around 50 vendors with booths outside and inside of the Smoky Lake Complex offering fresh produce to garlic dip to baking to hand-sewn items to jewellery to pottery to garden art to photography to face masks, and more.

Art Walk Curator Dawn Marie Marchand talked about the “homesteader theme” interactive exhibit which featured six vignettes where visitors could take selfies. Marchand said she, along with other local artists wanted to create this exhibition so families could feel safe and engaged all at the same time. “We wanted to add something different to the mix.” They also wanted to boost morale as it has been a very difficult year with COVID-19 and its health restrictions.

Fibre Artist Lindsay Robb was busy spinning wool on her 200-year-old wheel inside of the Smoky Lake Complex. Robb, who also refurbishes spinning wheels, said it is not a dying art and there are quite a few mills currently in existence in the province.

Robb first started spinning wool as a member of a guild while living overseas more than nine years ago. She loves the art of spinning and sharing her knowledge with others and encourage people to give it a try.