29 | This Week | Thursday, September 29,2022 | durhamregion.com Gates Open event returns to Durham Region The gates will be open and so will the barn doors, as local farms welcome guests to experience rural life just in time for the harvest season. On October 1 and 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., people from all across Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area will be invited to visit several locations, free of charge, and participate in a number of fun activities for the whole family. In partnership with Durham Farm Fresh, Durham Tourism is once again welcoming folks who want a glimpse into rural life after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The last Gates Open event took place in 2019. This event is the perfect way to kick-start your celebrations for Ontario Agriculture Week (October 3 to 9). Fun activities You'll get to do more than just walk around these farms; you'll be encouraged to roll up your sleeves and partake in some fun and educational activities. Some of the activities you can expect this year include digging for potatoes, pressing apples, working with wool and painting pumpkins. Which activity you participate in will depend on the farms you visit, so plan out your route accordingly. The Gates Open event is self-guided, so visitors can plan their weekend out how they want, with no registration or tickets required. As a family friendly event, Gates Open encourages people of all ages, from near and far, to come out and experience life on a real working farm. Participating farms As of the publication of this article, the following Durham Region farms are participating in the 2022 Gates Open weekend: • Banjo Cider (Uxbridge) • Bragg Farms (Bowmanville) • Gallery on the Farm (Hampton) • Nature's Bounty Farm (Port Perry) • Ocala Winery (Port Perry) • Sargent Family Dairy (Enniskillen) • Tindall Farm & Market (Uxbridge) • Two Blokes Cider (Seagrave) • Villa Vida Loca Market (Sunderland) • Wool 4 Ewe Fibre Mill (Nestleton Station) As you can see, there's a good variety represented, with cideries, wineries, dairy farms, wool producers and more! The flavours of Durham One thing the Gates Open event highlights is the importance of locally produced food.We take for granted that fresh vegetables are available to us at the grocery store, and we forget that some of that bounty is produced in our own backyard. Many of our Gates Open farms will be offering samples of their goods to visitors, including some prepared by professional chefs. You might not realize that these goods are produced right in your own area! If you want more than just a sample, many of these farms will have items for sale, as well. It's a great opportunity to stock up for fall harvest season celebrations. Nothing beats having locally grown vegetables and homemade baked goods on your dinner table when hosting close family and loved ones. Plan ahead Want to take part in this year's Gates Open event? Visit GatesOpen.ca to get the details on participating farms and to plan your route. This is a rain or shine event, so be prepared for weather conditions. We hope to see you and your family on October 1 and 2. There's so much to see and do right in your own backyard. It's a great opportunity to experience another way of life. Our local farms and farmers play such a vital role in our communities; it's important to learn more about them. See you there! S P O N S O R E D B Y D U R H A M T O U R I S M Banjo Cider (Uxbridge) Gallery on the Farm (Hampton) Tindall Farm & Market (Uxbridge) Ocala Winery (Port Perry) Villa Vida Loca Market (Sunderland) Bragg Farms (Bowmanville) Nature's Bounty Farm (Port Perry) Two Blokes Cider (Seagrave) Sargent Family Dairy (Enniskillen) Wool 4 Ewe Fibre Mill (Nestleton Station)