Harvest Festival
This FREE Family Sunday takes inspiration from harvest festivals around the world.
Join us to celebrate the season of abundance and give thanks to the earth for the flora and fauna we all share. A special family-friendly performance by Kuné, Canada’s Global Orchestra, will feature musicians from around the world sharing their craft and instruments.
Activities and Workshops
10:30 to 11 am
Storytime for Tots: Fall Harvest
Presented by Vaughan Public Libraries, join us for a toddler-friendly storytime including songs and stories all about the harvest season.
11:15 am
12:15 pm
1:15 pm
Location: Tour will meet in the Grand Hall
Ages 3 to 12
Storytelling Circle: Autumn Colours
For many landscape artists, the fall is a favourite season thanks to the beautiful colours, textures, and the lack of mosquitoes in the woods! This storytelling session will explore a range works on view and allow children and families to discover the stories behind some of the McMichael’s most beloved fall-themed artworks.
12:30 to 1:30 pm
2 to 3 pm
Location: Starting in the Grand Hall
All Ages
Spotlight On: Nature, Art, and History on the McMichael Grounds
Enjoy a guided walking tour of the McMichael’s scenic grounds and learn more about the outdoor art installations and sculptures. The tour will conclude with a special visit inside the historic Tom Thomson Shack, where visitors will explore new artwork by 2024 McMichael artist-in-residence Alexa Kumiko Hatanaka!
2 to 3:00 pm
Location: Gallery 8
All Ages
Performance: KUNÉ, Canada’s Global Orchestra
Hear how people around the world celebrate the end of summer and welcome fall and the harvest season with Kuné, Canada’s Global Orchestra, who celebrates Canada’s cultural diversity through the shared language of music. The ensemble includes Aline Morales, Demetri Petsalakis, Matias Recharte, Padideh Ahrarnejad, Selcuk Suna, and Fethi Nadjem from Peru, Algeria, Brazil, Iran and beyond, together creating a sound that is at once global and distinctively local.
WOW!! What JOY. This made my heart sing for you, for Kune, for Canada
11 am – 4 pm
Harvest Plate Full of Colours
Drop-in Artmaking Workshop
Led by artist and educator Sandra Tarantino, this workshop encourages participants to explore the intense colour and beauty of the fall season. Using mixed media, young artists will take a closer look at the lines, textures and patterns of fall fruits and vegetables to create their own vibrant image.
Location: Education Space
Ages 3 to 12
11 am – 3:30 pm
Location: Pine Cottage
Ages 3 to 12
Nature’s Gifts
Drop-in Art Making Workshop
Led by First Nations artist Madeleine Heaven, this hands-on wearable art workshop will explore the Wendat understanding of the natural world in which natural elements, such as plants, rocks, and animals, are understood to be animated spiritual beings. In the Wendat tradition, handcrafted wearable art such as belts and ceremonial attire are symbols of identity and storytelling. These decorative traditions have helped reinforce spiritual connections with the natural world.
The workshop also draws inspiration from historical beadwork produced by Kanien’keha women from Kahnawa:ke Mohawk Territory. Participants can view examples of this beadwork in the exhibition River of Dreams: Impressionism on the St. Lawrence.
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