Build your own garden art/ornament! Similar to stone or concrete art, this project is made with a lighter weight material. Proper care ensures that the piece will last some time. Please note: this can get messy and safety precautions will be taken. We suggest you to prepare as best as you can by wearing your “mess making” clothes, and bringing safety glasses if you have available. 

Learn about the ARAS Community Growing Patch. This is a hands-on program—come prepared to play in the dirt!

REGISTER: Eventbrite

This program has a cost:

• $15/project to take home (regardless of how many people, i.e., could be a whole family)

• $10/each additional project to take home

Join us for our Weekly Farmers Market - Tuesday's 4:30-7:30 (June 2 through September 29)

VENDOR REGISTRATION: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_dQywI5M-_x9vTj1bB_2clnuoKxqFxo7ayl7tMgBifkeoeA/viewform

ARAS Community Growing Patch: Little Wigglers in the Garden

Drop-in; Parented

The ARAS Community Growing Patch is a perfect place to meet and mingle with other parents in a garden atmosphere. Shelter available. Drop in any time during the program.

ARAS Community Growing Patch 22177 Wye Road (southeast corner of Wye Road and RR 222)

Learn about the Ardrossan Recreation and Agricultural Society, the ARAS Community Growing Patch, and volunteer opportunities.

CONNECT: ARAS FB PAGE - LIL WIGGLERS GROUP

Join us for our Weekly Farmers Market - Tuesday's 4:30-7:30 (June 2 through September 29)

VENDOR REGISTRATION: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_dQywI5M-_x9vTj1bB_2clnuoKxqFxo7ayl7tMgBifkeoeA/viewform

ARAS Community Growing Patch: Little Wigglers in the Garden

Drop-in; Parented

The ARAS Community Growing Patch is a perfect place to meet and mingle with other parents in a garden atmosphere. Shelter available. Drop in any time during the program.

ARAS Community Growing Patch 22177 Wye Road (southeast corner of Wye Road and RR 222)

Learn about the Ardrossan Recreation and Agricultural Society, the ARAS Community Growing Patch, and volunteer opportunities.

CONNECT: ARAS FB PAGE - LIL WIGGLERS GROUP

Feeling crafty? Build your own Herb Pallet is a great project to take home and enjoy the fruits of your labour. You’ll get to listen to the different ways that you bring your pallet to life and upcycle it to grow for you! 

REGISTER: Eventbrite

This program has a cost:

• $15/project to take home (regardless of how many people, i.e., could be a whole family)

• $10/each additional project to take home

Join us for our Weekly Farmers Market - Tuesday's 4:30-7:30 (June 2 through September 29)

VENDOR REGISTRATION: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_dQywI5M-_x9vTj1bB_2clnuoKxqFxo7ayl7tMgBifkeoeA/viewform

ARAS Community Growing Patch: Little Wigglers in the Garden

Drop-in; Parented

The ARAS Community Growing Patch is a perfect place to meet and mingle with other parents in a garden atmosphere. Shelter available. Drop in any time during the program.

ARAS Community Growing Patch 22177 Wye Road (southeast corner of Wye Road and RR 222)

Learn about the Ardrossan Recreation and Agricultural Society, the ARAS Community Growing Patch, and volunteer opportunities.

CONNECT: ARAS FB PAGE - LIL WIGGLERS GROUP

Cut flowers are lovely, but how do you keep them coming all summer long? Join Dale Ford, a trained Master Gardener (University of Guelph), with a degree in Education from Queen's, and a BFA (York). Dale is a delightful educator, who will inform and entertain you!

Learn about the Ardrossan Recreation and Agricultural Society, the ARAS Community Growing Patch, and volunteer opportunities.

REGISTER: Strathcona County Library

Join us for our Weekly Farmers Market - Tuesday's 4:30-7:30 (June 2 through September 29)

VENDOR REGISTRATION: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_dQywI5M-_x9vTj1bB_2clnuoKxqFxo7ayl7tMgBifkeoeA/viewform

Build your own take home Kitchen Garden. We’ll supply the pot, soil and herbs while you do the planting. Then, bring your new garden home and have yourself your own Kitchen Garden to feed from. 

Learn about the ARAS Community Growing Patch. This is a hands-on program—come prepared to play in the dirt!

REGISTER: Eventbrite

This program has a cost:

• $15/project to take home (regardless of how many people, i.e., could be a whole family)

• $10/each additional project to take home

Join us for our Weekly Farmers Market - Tuesday's 4:30-7:30 (June 2 through September 29)

VENDOR REGISTRATION: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_dQywI5M-_x9vTj1bB_2clnuoKxqFxo7ayl7tMgBifkeoeA/viewform

79th ARAS Parade | Saturday June 20th, 2026

Ardrossan Recreation & Agricultural Society is hosting the 79th Ardrossan Parade -- all registrations for this year's event will be managed via our eventbrite page.

THEME:

We are excited to announce our selected theme of Trains, Planes & Automobiles for this year's parade. So, please help us embrace it with your own interpretation!

SCHEDULE:

• 8:45 AM | Floats start checking in

• 10:30 AM (approx) | Roads Begin Closing

• 11:00 AM (approx) | Floats start leave parking lot

• 12:30 PM (approx) | Floats begin returning to parking lot

• 12:30 PM - 1PM (approx) | Floats can tear down in AJSH Parking Lot

• 1:00 PM (approx) | Roads Re-Open

REGISTER A FLOAT: https://ARAS79thParade.eventbrite.ca

Join us for our Weekly Farmers Market - Tuesday's 4:30-7:30 (June 2 through September 29)

VENDOR REGISTRATION: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_dQywI5M-_x9vTj1bB_2clnuoKxqFxo7ayl7tMgBifkeoeA/viewform

We will be using a metal water trough to build a bed that will keep your tomatoes happy while you are away! Tomatoes need regular watering and don’t respond well to periods of dry or soggy soil. Water stress can lead to problems like tasteless fruit, blossom end rot, and cracking and even facilitate the spread of disease. A wicking bed can be the answer!

Learn about the Ardrossan Recreation and Agricultural Society, the ARAS Community Growing Patch, and volunteer opportunities.

REGISTER: https://scl.bibliocommons.com/events/69e7d1c15c04bc0fc0630d60

Join us for our Weekly Farmers Market - Tuesday's 4:30-7:30 (June 2 through September 29)

VENDOR REGISTRATION: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_dQywI5M-_x9vTj1bB_2clnuoKxqFxo7ayl7tMgBifkeoeA/viewform

Come plant the Three Sisters (corn, beans and squash) in the traditional way of working with the land. Chantelle Gray of Mâskwa Medicine will lead us in both ceremony and planting.

Learn about companion gardening the Indigenous way, and find out more about the ARAS Community Growing Patch. This is a hands-on program—come prepared to play in the dirt!

REGISTER: https://scl.bibliocommons.com/events/69a8a110403a4e5652de2f80

Join us for our Weekly Farmers Market - Tuesday's 4:30-7:30 (June 2 through September 29)

VENDOR REGISTRATION: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_dQywI5M-_x9vTj1bB_2clnuoKxqFxo7ayl7tMgBifkeoeA/viewform

Drop by the ARAS Community Growing Patch for a casual morning in the garden! Members of the Growing Committee will be working on seasonal projects, planning, sharing ideas, learning from each other, and enjoying the space together.

Whether you want to help out, ask gardening questions, learn something new, or simply bring a coffee and chit chat in the garden, all ages and contributions are welcome. Come for the whole morning or just stop by for a visit.

May 23: Expect potato planting!

Drop by the ARAS Community Growing Patch for a casual morning in the garden! Members of the Growing Committee will be working on seasonal projects, planning, sharing ideas, learning from each other, and enjoying the space together.

Whether you want to help out, ask gardening questions, learn something new, or simply bring a coffee and chit chat in the garden, all ages and contributions are welcome. Come for the whole morning or just stop by for a visit.

May 16: Expect garden clean up!

In honor of Alberta Open Farm Days theme, "Water, the Lifeblood of Every Farm" -- we have selected "Water" as this year's parade theme. So, please help us embrace it with your own interpretation!

Parade begins at 11am from Ardrossan Junior Senior High School.

To register a float, visit https://arasparaderegistration2025.eventbrite.ca/

Presented in Partnership with the Strathcona County Library:

ARAS Community Growing Patch Hands-On Gardening Series:
Three Sisters Planting Experience with Chantelle Gray

Unregistered (Be there at 10:00am).
This is a hands-on program; come prepared to play in the dirt!

We will be planting the Three Sisters (corn, beans and squash) in the traditional way of working with the land. Chantelle Gray, of Mâskwa Medicine, will lead us in both ceremony and planting. 

Learn about the Ardrossan Recreation and Agricultural Society, the ARAS Community Growing Patch, and volunteer opportunities.

ARAS Community Growing Patch Hands-on Gardening Series: Planting Potatoes in Straw with Carlene Schneider

Adults, Teens, Seniors. Registered (Be there at 10 a.m.) Visit ARAS Community Growing Patch: Planting Potatoes in Straw with Carlene Schneider to register.

Children welcome!

Recycle old straw bales to grow your potatoes on sod or soil. This method can eliminate scabs and result in a very clean harvest.

This program will be a hands-on planting session in the ARAS Community Growing Patch.

Learn about the Ardrossan Recreation and Agricultural Society, the ARAS Community Growing Patch, and volunteer opportunities.

Presenter Bio: 
Carlene was raised and educated in Ontario, attending the University of Guelph, majoring in horticulture and business. Since moving to Alberta in 2004, she has found one great opportunity after the next within the agriculture, rural development, and reclamation sectors. The purebred Angus farm she is lucky to live on is nestled between Elk Island National Park and Edmonton. With her family, the farm is evolving to include a market garden business that allows her and her family to connect with their community.

ARAS Community Growing Patch: Building a Flower Bower

All ages. Registered Visit ARAS Community Growing Patch: Building a Flower Bower to register.

Children welcome!

We are going to have some fun upcycling an old swing set into a shady nook for the garden, using annual vines and flowers.

For the young and young at heart, building a leafy shelter in your backyard can bring hours of summer enjoyment.

Learn about the Ardrossan Recreation and Agricultural Society, the ARAS Community Growing Patch, and volunteer opportunities.

ARAS Community Growing Patch: Soil Testing with Dave MacTaggart MSc. PAg

Adult program Registered (Be there at 10 a.m.) Visit ARAS Community Growing Patch: Soil Testing with Dave MacTaggart MSc. PAg to register.

Children welcome!

We’ll work through practical strategies to learn more about your soil through at home and lab-based tests to better support soil health and the production of your garden. We will cover soil texture, sedimentation, lab and pH tests.

This is a hands-on-in-the-dirt session.

Learn about the Ardrossan Recreation and Agricultural Society, the ARAS Community Growing Patch, and volunteer opportunities.

Presenter Bio: Dave grew up on a small farm near Lacombe where his interest in food production and land stewardship began. He attended the University of Saskatchewan where he studied crop science and how to deliver scientific knowledge to farmers and food producers. Now at Strathcona County, Dave writes educational articles for the County agriculture newsletter “From Soil to Supper”, plans educational agricultural events, and works 1:1 with farmers and County residents to access the agriculture resources they need.

ARAS Community Growing Patch Hands-On Gardening Series: Pruning Workshop at Northline Farms

Registered (Be there at 10 a.m.)

Visit ARAS Community Growing Patch: Pruning Workshop at Northline Farms to register.

Children welcome!

Northline Farms

We are taking a road trip to Northline Farms where we will learn how to prune different trees, fruits and berries. Take home free raspberry canes.

We will be returning to the ARAS Community Growing Patch 22177 Wye Road (South-east corner of RR222 & Wye Road) to transplant berries.

Learn about the Ardrossan Recreation and Agricultural Society, the ARAS Community Growing Patch, and volunteer opportunities.

Presented in Partnership with the Strathcona County Library:

ARAS Community Growing Patch Hands-On Gardening Series:
Irrigation in the Garden with Carlene Schneider

Unregistered (Be there at 10:00am).
This is a hands-on program; come prepared to play in the dirt!

This hands-on session will teach you how to keep your garden hydrated. You will learn when and how to water, how much to water, different ways to provide water, and ways to retain moisture.

Learn about the Ardrossan Recreation and Agricultural Society, the ARAS Community Growing Patch, and volunteer opportunities.

Presenter Bio: Carlene was raised and educated in Ontario, attending the University of Guelph, majoring in horticulture and business. Since moving to Alberta in 2004, she has found one great opportunity after the next within the agriculture, rural development, and reclamation sectors. The purebred Angus farm she is lucky to live on is nestled between Elk Island National Park and Edmonton. With her family, the farm is evolving to include a market garden business that allows her and her family to connect with their community.

Meet members and learn about volunteering with ARAS!

Event hosted by Volunteer Strathcona

https://volunteerstrathcona.ca/events/volunteer-fair/