Escape the city and enjoy Fall into Nature’s final weekend

One of the unique aspects of living in this area is the transition between the four seasons, each with its own defining moments. We know that spring is on the way when we spot our first robin, longer days and warmer nights mean summer is around the corner. But there is only one season that announces its arrival (and departure) in a dramatic burst of colourful glory, and that is fall.

Conservation Halton is pleased to present Fall into Nature to celebrate the spectacular landscapes and colours of fall. We are fortunate to have, just a short drive away, an abundance of natural areas with rolling hills, and the Niagara Escarpment to showcase the array of reds, oranges, yellows and browns.

Fall into Nature -Trails

Fall into Nature kicked off this past Thanksgiving weekend and more than 30,000 visitors enjoyed the warm weather, fall colours and the happenings at our parks. The event continues this weekend, October 15 and 16, with activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all six of Conservation Halton's main parks: Crawford Lake, Hilton Falls, Kelso, Mount Nemo, Mountsberg and Rattlesnake Point Conservation Areas.

See what our parks have to offer

Fall into Nature is a wonderful opportunity to see all of the parks in their fall splendour. Each park has a Welcome Centre to let you know what’s happening that day and a detailed schedule of events is available online.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of unique outdoor experiences including:

• Chairlift rides to the top of the escarpment with spectacular views
• Self-guided and interpreter led tours through our many trails and landscapes
• Tractor-drawn wagon rides through the parks
• Educational and interactive programs (visit an Iroquoian Village, learn about the science of nature)
• Live performances (music, First Nations dancers)
• Demonstrations (Bird of Prey shows, reptile shows, mountain biking)
• Gate entry
• Various other activities for children, barbeques, and more.

Take a ride on the Fall Bus Tour and lunch is on us!

Sit back and enjoy the ride as we take you on a guided Fall into Nature bus tour on October 15 and 16. The tour will take you to three distinctive parks, Kelso, Crawford Lake and Mountsberg, where you will learn about the area’s natural and cultural history, while enjoying a variety of special events. 

Seats are still available for both days, your full-day bus tour will include:

View from Kelso Chairlift ride

• Chairlift ride at Kelso to enjoy autumn views along the escarpment, with a guided walk to learn about the landscape from spectacular vantage points
• Barbeque lunch
• Stop at Crawford Lake for a feature presentation with Iroquoian Dancers and an opportunity to tour the village
• Birds of Prey Demonstration and Wildlife Walkway at Mountsberg

The Fall Bus Tour is $30 per person (including taxes) and will be from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., departing from Kelso. Book online or call 905-854-2276.

Forest Festival at Rattlesnake Point

On Saturday, October 15, Conservation Halton will hold its inaugural Forest Festival at Rattlesnake Point. Come out and celebrate the International Year of Forests and learn about the importance of trees and forests in our region.

Enjoy interactive displays on the use of forest products, horse logging demonstrations timber sports, guided hikes and more activities. There will also be a display of some of the region’s native snakes from Mountsberg between noon and 3 p.m.

A wide area of cultural and family fun activities

Mount Nemo

Fall into Nature also has cultural activities which will open a door into the past for all to learn more about the rich history of this region and showcase local talent. There will be live performances with a variety of music and First Nations Dancers at Crawford Lake. Drummers and non-drummers of all ages are invited to join the open drum circle at Hilton Falls.

A wide array of activities for all ages and interests are being offered at Fall into Nature. Have fun with harvest themed games, discovery hunts and crafts for kids. Explore the PlayBarn at Mountsberg, build a pinecone birdfeeder at Hilton Falls, do a craft, or enter the pumpkin raffle at Crawford Lake.

Enjoy a fall road trip from park to park

The fall colours in Halton Region are accentuated with our region’s many country roads, rolling terrain, and of course the Niagara Escarpment. As you travel through Escarpment Country during Fall into Nature, there are many other great attractions in our area, such as shops, local artisans, and numerous farms with fresh produce.

While enjoying Fall into Nature, be sure to check out other local destinations such as Campbellville, which offers shopping and dining opportunities. Or, enjoy the fruits of the harvest season with a visit to Springridge Farm, Stonehaven Farms, Chudleigh’s, or any of the farmer’s markets throughout the region.

More about Fall into Nature

During Fall into Nature visitors will also be able to enjoy the regular activities and programs available at Conservation Halton parks. Park visitors who purchase a one-day park entry during the festival will receive a Fall into Nature passport valid for one full day’s admission to all six parks. Show your passport on subsequent days and receive a 20 per cent discount on your entry.

Visit www.conservationhalton.ca and www.fallintonature.ca for event details and be sure to come our parks and experience the best of the season.

Fall into Nature is made possible in part through the generous support of the Government of Ontario Celebrate Ontario Program. Conservation Halton launched its first Fall into Nature festival in 2009 and over 28,000 people attended, last year over 45,000 people attended.

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Guest Blogger, Norm Miller, Conservation Halton

 

Children's Festival 20th Anniversary

As a relatively new parent, it shocked me a little that I hadn’t been to Burlington’s Children’s Festival before, despite living here most of my life.  To be fair, when it first began, 20 years ago, I was already 16 – perhaps a bit too old for the festivities at that age.

Now that I’ve been blessed with a 1 and 3 year-old (although when they wake up screaming at 3 a.m. they don’t exactly feel like blessings), it was time for me to put aside my usual dislike of crowds and show my little munchkins a good time!  I packed up some snacks while my fearless husband loaded the kids and our all-terrain stroller into the car.

This year’s theme was Pirates & Princesses, so I knew we’d be guaranteed to see things that would entrance and impress my 3-year-old daughter Hannah all day long.

Day 1 took place on the Burlington beachfront; a fitting location given the annual “Discover Sandcastles” competition was underway!

Day 2 took place in equally beautiful Spencer Smith Park and brought with it more entertainment, kids activities and freebies than we had the time or energy to take in!  I knew early on that it was going to be very challenging to sum up the whole 2 days in just one article.  You can see tons of photos and video in the clip I’ve included if you want all the stunning highlights!


#20 The memories - Guest Blogger Victoria

To help narrow things down, and in honour of the Festival’s 20th Anniversary, I thought it would be fitting to share with you our Top 20 Favourite Things from this year’s fantastic event!

1. The Weather.  Nothing would ruin an outdoor festival (not to mention a sandcastle) quicker than rain, but Day 1 was full of warm sunshine and the few drops we saw on Day 2 were barely noticed by anyone – least of all the kids!

#3 Balloons!

2. Ample Parking.  All you parents out there with your arms full of strollers and toddlers and baby bags and sippy cups know that the closer you can park to your destination, the better.  Both days we had no trouble at all finding free parking right next to the action.

3. Balloons.  Nothing keeps a small child happily preoccupied better than a helium-filled balloon...and we didn’t even see that many floating away into the sky!  There were also amazing balloon animals by Cindy of Brilliant Balloons to wow kids of all ages!

4. Tattoos.  I didn’t realize they even made “girlie” pirate tattoos, but the proof is still proudly being displayed on my daughter’s right arm 3 days later. 

5. Crafts.  I was in heaven watching my daughter go nuts with popsicle sticks, glue and glitter knowing that I wouldn’t need to clean up anything when she was done! 



#7 Entertainment

6. The Kids Marketplace.  Often, at big events, you can get overwhelmed by sponsors and vendors, but this one was full of local organizations that provide great kids activities, like martial arts, music and gymnastics programs.  We got great ideas, and met the instructors in person, which was a really helpful experience as we decide what makes the most sense for our kids this fall.

7. The Entertainment.  From pirates showing off their swordplay skills, to talented musical acts, to the hilarious Puppet Tamer Pirate Tim, we were entertained non-stop the entire 2 days.  

8. Outdoor Movie Night.  Day 2 finished at night with an outdoor screening of Pirates of the Caribbean.  While it started a little too late for my tots to stay up for, it’s a wonderful way to spend a summer evening along the waterfront.

#10 The Face Painting

9. The Food.  From freshly squeezed lemonade to corn-on-the-cob with dozens of “corndiments”, to the always-popular french fry and ice cream trucks, there were lots of tasty treats to be had.

10. Face Painting.   This was definitely my daughter’s favourite thing about the festival.  The blue eyeshadow gave me 80’s flashbacks of myself that I’d rather forget, but she looked utterly adorable!

11. Exploring.  The kids got to roam around a shiny red firetruck, run through a pirate-themed city bus (I loved seeing my daughter in the driver’s seat), and hop in and out of a real police car.  I’m hoping that’s the only time I see my kids in a cop car!  The huge inflatable pirate ships & obstacles courses were a big hit too!

12. Toy Cars.  The Hot Wheels interactive display was really cool!  Once the kids pushed past all the dads who were reliving their youth, they had a blast seeing the latest and greatest innovations in toy cars & tracks. 

13. Princesses and Pirates.  They were everywhere!  From the entertainers to the sandcastles to festival-goers old and young, everyone was in the spirit and got dressed up in some excellent costumes.  

14. The Parade.  What better way to showcase all the pirate & princesses in their glory than by letting them parade around the Festival on Day 2, waving to the crowds as they walked by!  Letting kids “be” in a parade pretty much guarantees a never-ending sea of smiles, and that’s just what we saw all around us.

#16 The Parks - Beachway Park

15. The Atmosphere.  It was so relaxed, so full of positive energy, and brimming with happy families!  Laughter is contagious and we sure caught our fair share!

16. The Parks.  The play areas at both Beachway Park and Spencer Smith Park are truly outstanding.  There are swings and slides and unique climbing challenges for kids of all ages.   On a hot day, nothing beats the water-jets at Discovery Landing.

17. It’s Free.  Free!  Enough said.

#19 The Sandcastles - AMAZING

18. It’s Local.  Nothing’s better than taking the kids to a 2-day event full of fun that is just a few blocks away from your own home.  Especially these days with the price of gas putting a serious dent in many summer travel budgets!  

19. The Sandcastles.  Amateurs and professionals equally impressed us with amazing sand sculptures, castles, pirates, and more!

20. The Memories.  As any parent will tell you, finding quality time to spend with the family seems to be the hardest struggle we all face these days.  The memories we made over these 2 days will definitely last a lifetime. 

We can’t wait until next year! 



Update for 2012 - Theme is Jungle Safari & information can be found here