Sold-out Easterfest event a success at Downey’s Farm

By Zachary Roman

In addition to its other duties, the Easter Bunny made a visit to a Caledon farm last weekend.

Pictures with the Easter Bunny was just one of many family-friendly activities going on during Downey's Farm's Easterfest event last weekend from Friday, April 15 to Sunday, April 17.

The event also ran the weekend prior, on April 9 and 10.

There were Easter egg hunts, Easter story wagon rides, farm animals, magic shows, Easter puppet shows and an Easter craft station. Kids and their families also played in the farm's play area.

Darlene Downey is the farm manager at Downey's Farm and said she and her team were so happy to be able to hold Easterfest again. It hasn't been able to be held since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We were happy with the way everything went and we're looking forward to making it even better next year,” she said.

Tickets for the event were sold in advance online in order to help farm staff better prepare for Easterfest, said Downey.

The format worked well and tickets for all days of Easterfest sold out.

“Because we're on the farm and because our parking is in our fields, we have to be able to accommodate for the people that are coming,” she said, explaining spring rain can often mean muddy fields.

“We don't want to be pulling people out of mud pits if we don't have to,” said Downey with a laugh.

There hasn't been as much rain as expected this year, explained Downey, which is a good thing mud-wise. Downey has found people don't mind coming out in the cold — and it was a little chilly last weekend — but that the rain can put a damper on things.

Downey's Farm is now closed temporarily, but will reopen every day beginning May 20.

Downey said she is looking forward to another major event Downey's is putting on this summer: the Canada Day Strawberry Festival. A portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales to that event will be donated to Caledon Community Services, said Downey.

The Canada Day event will feature a pancake breakfast, the pancakes being topped with strawberries from Downey's Farm. The farm's play area will be open and throughout the day there will be live music, a magician and a dog show.