Fall Fair and Forest Festival
September 5,6 &7th 2008

Sunday September 7th, 2008 may have been a wet day, but visitors to the Fall Fair at Falls Brook Centre didn’t let the rain dampen their spirits.

The fair kicked off on Saturday the 6th of September with a Forest Festival. Speakers and visitors came to relish in the shared knowledge and experiences of the forest. The morning opened with a forum. Among the guest speakers of the morning, Dr. Peggy Smith travelled in with her students from Lakehead University, in Ontario. She spoke to the crowds of eager listeners perched on straw bales about Community Forestry, touching on policy comparisons between Ontario and New Brunswick. David Coon, policy director of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick spoke about the recently released New Brunswick forestry reports. Mitch Lansky town councillor from Wytopitlock, Maine gave a talk entitled, ‘Forestry as if the Future Matters’. The buzz began and people with all sorts of interest in forestry were conversing and sharing ideas. Spread across the FBC lawn there were representatives of the New Brunswick forest industry, there were vendors, artists, guides and even a portable sawmill.

Activities were plentiful at the fair. Sue Szwed led enthusiastic fair goers on knowledgeable walks through the wild woods at Falls Brook Centre. Participants of Sue’s forest walks were able to draw on her immense knowledge of the wilderness as she pointed out different species of the Acadian forest highlighting certain medicinal properties and a variety of uses. It was the visiting class of forestry students from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario who stole the show by breaking records boiling water in the Woodsman Competition.
The One World Puppet Troupe made an appearance with the cast and crew of Fossil Fools to entertain kids of all ages, if they weren’t too busy mastering the art of hula hooping. Perly the Magic Man wowed audiences performing magic tricks on the drizzly Sunday afternoon.

There are two constants that you will find every time you visit the fall fair; music and food. Throughout the days of Saturday and Sunday a variety of artists, instruments and rhythms take to the stage delighting listeners near and far with foot tapping songs and stories. Ashley Bernard, Cesar Morales, John and Donna White, Joe Bradstreet, Honeymoon Waning and Daniel Ruiz were some of the daylight performers. But as the sun set, the fun did not end, the evenings proved groovy with campers and music lovers in their dancing shoes, cutting the imaginary barn rug!! With bands like Ross Neilson, Isaac and Blewett and the Downtown Blues Band everyone was of high spirits!

The landscape at Falls Brook Centre seems to work in favour of hungry fair goers as the contours create an amphitheatre type atmosphere carrying sounds from the barn up the hill. As the daytime activities unfolded folks could take tours, listen in at the forest forum, or grab a bite to eat. Food at the fair was plentiful and delicious! Homemade pies, a corn boil, sausages and Indian cuisine could be found at the top of the hill. Diners sat under the sun alongside solar panels and fuel efficient stoves enjoying good company and great food.

Every year, the weekend after Labour Day all are welcome to come share in the festival of the annual Fall Fair at Falls Brook Centre. Come dance, eat great food and relish in the beauty of rural living! See you in 2009!