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The Festival is an annual fun filled educational event that celebrates the tantalizing taste of melons and; peppers from sweet to 'ouch' hot all ripened here in the North. Admission, parking, competitions, and all the events are free! |
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We are expecting many of the 129 varieties of melons grown on our Farm (15 types), to be fully ripe by Labour Day! Owners Cindy and Andy Terauds are growing 129 varieties, of the 15 types of melons. Over 300 varieties of melons have been grown over the years. Only the best tasting varieties continue to be grown at Acorn Creek. This year 41 new varieties are being tested. Many of the melons at Acorn Creek are not available at grocery stores because the rind is too thin to allow for the bumps of shipping. At the Farm all the varieties are sweeter and tastier because melons are picked fully ripe. This guarantees maximum flavour and the highest possible sugar content. |
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Free samples of most of the 15 types of melons, such as Crenshaw, Canary, Charentais, Golden Crispy, Butterscotch, Hami, Oriental, Tropical, Ananas, yellow, orange and red watermelons and more, will be available at the Festival. |
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We are also growing 155 varieties of peppers, from the sweet to the revengefully hot! Samples of several sweet, hot and the hottest types will be at the sampling table. A total of 102 varieties of peppers, including 17 new ones, are growing in the fields, 36 in the greenhouse. The three main groupings of sweet, hot and chili come in an array of colours from white to black, chocolate, red, yellow, orange, lilac, purple, and of course green. At the Sampling Table, start with sampling those juicy, aromatic, honey-sweet melons. The foolhardy and crazies can sample the chili peppers. Sweet and hot pepper samples will be available for the rest of us. All the types of melons that are ripe will be available for sampling and purchase. |
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A full day of activities for all ages, including: |
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Demonstrations by local chefs and experts on how to use melons and peppers in interesting and useful ways.
Local sources for the ingredients are used wherever possible. Here is your opportunity to see first hand
how to improve on and extend the melon season.
- Award winning Chef, Matthew Carmichael of Eighteen Restaurant, will demonstrate his unique Grilled Melon-Vegetable Salad; - Chen Marc Miron of Cuisine & Passion Roasted will demonstrate his tasty Charred Pepper & Peach Salad; - Cook Pat Morgan of Pats Sweet Temptations will demonstrate their flavourful Curried Chickpea and Potatoes dish; - Cook Mali Iemsisanith of Mali's Egg Rolls will teach you how to spice things up with her Spicy Thai cooking demonstraation; - Veteran Farmer Andy Terauds will be your guide to the best ways to freezing melons and peppers. Guided tours of the melon and pepper patches; This is an opportunity to see how the melons or peppers are grown, what the characteristics of the different types are and how to know when they are ripe. Wagon rides through the vegetable fields; Free wagon rides taking people to the fields to pick their own vegetables will run all day. Baskets and bushels to pick into will be available at the departure area. Watermelon eating and seed spitting contests with prizes. The watermelon eating and seed spitting is open to everyone in 2 categories - under 13 and 13 plus. We have great prizes from Karters Corners go-carts, Stan's Put Put Land mini-golf, Thunderbird Golf Club par-3-golf, Irish Hills Golf & Country Club. We thank them for their support. |
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Local artisans and vendors will be on site to provide; food, baking, preserved meats, hot sauces, preserves and crafts.
Several select vendors will be selling unique local crafts, products and great ethnic foods.
These vendors have been carefully chosen for the quality and uniqueness of their products.
They will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
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Our Farm Market will be open as well for seasonal fruit and vegetables, many of the 60 types of vegetables grown at Acorn Creek. The Farm Market also has preserves, honey and maple syrup. | ||
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Labour Day, Monday, September 7th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm |
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MelonFest and Pepper Pow. Wow! take place on the grounds of Acorn Creek Garden Farm near Carp, Ontario. Directions: Take the 417 to Carp Rd. (Exit 144), go north to Richardson Side Rd., turn right, then take the first left to 928 Oak Creek Rd. Or follow the signs to Acorn Creek Garden Farm. You are also welcome to print this Map to the Farm. For information, call the Veggie Hot Line at (613) 836-2613. |
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| Ata "Ping Pong" Iemsisanith A&A Fries 152 Lloydalex Cr., Carp Ont., K0A 1L0, tel. 613-831-2144 |
Iemsisanith Mali Mali's Egg Rolls 152 Lloydalex Cr., Carp Ont., K0A 1L0, tel. 613-831-2144 |
| John Lubrun Chamomile Desjardins 801 Holt Crescent, Ottawa Ont., K1G 2Y5, tel. 613-731-7424 |
Patricia Morgan Pats Sweet Temptations 213 Lee Crescent, Carleton Place Ont., K7C 3P2, tel. 613-257-8028 |
| Chef Marc Miron Cuisine & Passion 2297 St. Joseph Boul., Orleans Ont., K1C 1E7, tel. (613) 845-1090 |
Rosemary Kralik Tiraislin Fold Farm 113 Clarindon Rd., Maberly Ont., K0H 2R0, tel. 613-268-9999 |
| Chris, Kim Hall Hall's Apple Market 2930 2nd Concession Rd., Brockville Ont., K6V 5T1, tel. 613-342-6320 |
Bonnie-Jean Stacey Take Charge Tea 475 Churchill Ave., Ottawa Ont., K1Z 5E1, tel. 613-729-3715 |
| Gerry Bedard The Herb Garden 3840 Old Almonte Rd., Almonte Ont., K0A 1A0, tel. 613-256-0228 |