Langley Eats Local Festival

Over the last little while, I've come to the realization that Agritourism will be the key to preserving farming viability and the Agricultural Land Reserve in Metro Vancouver. And what better way to show your support for local than attending the Langley Eats Local Festival.

Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) is proud to once again present Langley Eats Local! The 4th annual sustainable food festival will take place on Sunday, July 29th at Driediger Farms Market. Centrally located next to 160 acres of farmland, this year's festival will feature local farmers, food processors, and artisans. The widespread appreciation among participants, exhibitors, and vendors from last year’s success has prompted LEPS to host the event at Driediger Farms for a second consecutive year.

The goal of the festival is to celebrate Langley's vast agricultural land reserve and to encourage citizens of the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley to shop and eat from our region.

Langley Eats Local is a family-oriented day of fun featuring local music talent, face painting, community group exhibits, artistic craftsmanship, and quality local foods. There will be a variety of fresh food samples and local products to purchase including produce, preserves, flowers, and pottery. One of many returnees, the Suburban Spoon, will be providing concession at the event from an entertainingly purple mobile kitchen. LEPS will also have an interactive display of edible native plants courtesy of Cedar Rim Nursery. The festival runs from 11 am to 3 pm. Admission is free.

Last year, over 1,200 attendees enjoyed picking berries in the U-pick fields and socializing in the open air market. Whether single, couple, family, youth or adult, participants from all over Metro Vancouver came to visit Driediger Farms - some as far as Vancouver Island. "Everyone who attended the event is already truly concerned with supporting food locally and knows where their food comes from," says Bonnie Windsor, Assistant Plant Manager at Johnston's. One attendee described their experience as a rare opportunity to both shop and eat locally amidst a family farming operation - a sentiment strongly echoed by Langley Eats Local returning vendors and exhibitors.

“LEPS hosts Langley Eats Local as a way to introduce citizens to local food providers, and to encourage the positive environmental impact that supporting local producers has on our global footprint,” said Nichole Marples, LEPS Executive Director “as well as the economic benefits of keeping our money local”.