Richmond’s Farm Fest at the Garden City Lands showcased Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s regenerative agriculture and local food growing to packed family crowds on Sept. 13.
The Story
A Sunday morning push from Richmond residents and visitors underscored the community pull of Farm Fest at the Garden City Lands, where the event opened at 11 a.m. on Sept. 13 and drew interest early, with the shuttle bus already full at about 10:45 a.m.
The account describes a departure from the Kwantlen Polytechnic University parking lot, with attendees taking a shuttle to the Farm Fest site in the Garden City Lands area. As the bus headed toward Lansdowne Road, crowds could already be seen moving along the sidewalks toward the entrance.
Organizers had the flow of the grounds set up with signage and explanatory material near the entrance, and visitors stopped to read the information. The presence of people wearing green T-shirts with white KPU lettering was described as part of the on-site support, with attendees seeking answers to questions.
While the atmosphere was described as energetic, the details point to a family-focused format, with entertainment specifically designed for young children. The column emphasizes that children were able to stay engaged without relying on the type of screen-based diversion typically used, suggesting a hands-on approach throughout the event’s activities.
Adults were also drawn in by the local geography of the Garden City Lands itself. Some attendees were characterized as having often driven past the area without knowing what it included, and the Farm Fest experience was presented as a way to see the lands up close for the first time.
The Garden City Lands are described as just over 136 acres in area, with Farm Fest staged in the northwest corner. That placement also connects the event to Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s farm operations located there.
The KPU farm is described as “a living laboratory for students learning about regenerative organic agriculture.” In that context, the growing season at the farm was described as still underway, and participants were encouraged to walk through the fields and greenhouses to view what was growing.
The column highlights how the bounty visible during the event may have been new to many visitors, particularly those who are more accustomed to buying produce already washed and packaged. It notes that supermarket displays often remove the “earthy” look of vegetables, whereas Farm Fest offered a view of produce while still growing in the ground.
Beyond the day’s attractions, the Farm Fest experience was framed as a community event built around Richmond’s agricultural heritage, bringing people together over shared interests and leaving visitors feeling satisfied with what they encountered. The account also says the event attracted thousands of visitors, indicating broad reach within the region.
For local residents, the practical significance of the message in the column is tied to visibility of food production close to home. The event is presented as a reminder that growing food locally is possible on community land and that agriculture can shape career pathways, including enrollment in KPU’s department of sustainable agriculture.
The final context offered by the column connects the day’s observation of active farms and fields to the longer-term need for agriculture, suggesting that agriculturists will remain essential and may become even more important over time. For Vancouver-area readers, the takeaway centers on understanding where local food comes from and what roles support that work in the community.
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