ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS FRIDAY AT THE ‘IN AUTUMN’ SEASONAL FESTIVAL AT HALE MUSKOKA’S MARKET SQUARE

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST —  Pumpkin pie contest and a fashion show.

That’s a nice way to ease in to Thanksgiving tomorrow.

Hale Muskoka is hosting a two-day fall fest today and Friday.

‘In Autumn’ is a new afternoon and early evening seasonal celebration on Bethune Drive North at the “old Simpson barn” property Market Square.

Part of a first year soft opening at the cozy natural outdoor event space surrounded by rock and lots of tall coloured leave trees.

Owner Eric Abugov was enjoying the perfect weather today strolling and talking with guests about his plans.

And explaining why it’s not also open Saturday and Sunday.

“We didn’t want to take away from family gatherings and dinners.”

Eric Abugov saved this classic piece of Gravenhurst history by recovering this once lost and abandoned Briars Dairy milk wagon and plans to preserve it by restoring and bringing it back to working life for vendor use. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com

It’s the second kick-off event following a bigger one in early August.

This one is a tough act to follow an amazing start that drew several hundred.

Many of the same vendors are back with great food, music and entertainment for the kids.

A stop by Thursday spotted more than a dozen guests making holiday floral arrangements carved from orange and white pumpkins and filled with giant multi-hued rose and fall flower blooms.

A rose by every fall colour made a perfect filling for carved pumpkins this afternoon under the big top at the Market Square.

It was one of a handful of craft activities visitors could buy tickets to participate in at the big table inside the white festival circus tent.

Everything else is wide open and free to enjoy.

Including Friday’s ‘Best Fall Pie’ contest and three fashion shows starting after 2 p.m.

Enjoy a memorable evening tonight and tomorrow for the Culinary Experience with celebrity Chefs Jordan Wagman, Charmaine Broughton and Bradley Yip.

Purchase your tickets for the other special events here: Https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/in-autumn-tickets-1708368559349?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Fashion show Friday

Former Barrie CTV news anchor Jayne Pritchard offered a sneak peek of fashion shows as she modelled a gorgeous full-length orange Canadian wool coat made by Ste.Marg.Scott. wool company in Toronto.

Pritchard, who has been retired from the news desk for three years, said she can’t wait to show more of her friend’s products.

Owner Sasha Jardine says her vibrant colourful collection is both Canadian and English and “our mission is to make wool cool and hip and fun again. And we do with heritage material. Our wool comes from a 300-year-old mill in England.”

And she’s done it with a funky, bright and beautiful lineup of hats, bags, gloves, jackets, pillows and more achieves its goal of classic wearable fashions.

“It’s Natural. Not Neutral,” her banner reads.

 Hale’s gates open again Friday at noon.

Jayne Pritchard models a luxurious full-length wool coat perfect for fall. She will be wearing it during fashion Friday tomorrow.
The coat belongs to Sasha Jardine’s Ste.Marg.Scott. wool company, which is one of the exhibitors at ‘In Autumn’ and is participating in the fashion show tomorrow afternoon.

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