Witchfest at Gardner Village

We visit here often to feed the ducks. The festivities start on Sept 19, 2020. They say, "Facemasks must be worn and stay a broomstick apart from other groups.

 

It's hard for me NOT to take offense since all the witches are generally my age and shape. Plus they dress better than I do. They drive like me, too, as illustrated on the wheat silo behind me. 

Bill is checking out the businesses. I asked several owners how business is going and they all say it's fine. However, all the food businesses are closed except for two.

Here Bill is chatting with a customer.

The witches enjoy a game of baseball. BYU is up to bat and the U of U catcher is ready to go. 

Here comes the pitch!

Now that the baseball game is over, we can watch two witches racing on their brooms. 

Here they come to the finish line!

 The loser brews drinks for everyone. There is plenty of cauldron work going on at the festival but it will all be non-alcoholic. 

This witch is set to add the vodka to the traditional witches' brew recipe of lime gelatin, ginger ale and pineapple juice. But alcohol will not be allowed in the village! 

There is a ladies room in case anyone needs to use it during their visit. 

In case of fire, there is an onsite fire department. 

Don't miss the diving contest by the pond!

Diving is rounded off by the Hula Hoop contest!

If you get lost in the village, you can send a note to friends via a bike messenger.






Or you can use the bird house message boxes! Just tell the witch your message and she will see it is delivered. 

Don't forget to make dinner reservations for later!

In the meantime, be on the lookout for friendly witches going about their business all through the village. 

Open until 5 p.m. on Halloween!

Farmer's Market at Gardner Village

We live close to Gardner Village in West Jordan but we haven't been there in the last decade. We thought it would be fun to see how it has changed. 

The Petting Farm is a new addition since we were there last. Unfortunately, we couldn't enter that area because our chairs don't do well on gravel. 

Gardner Village started as a flour mill. They still have two old wheels. They aren't powered by the water anymore. They run on electricity. The part with the wheel is restricted to private parties. But we saw a man cleaning the area and he let us in to see it. 

The whole Village is old-timey and quaint. Some of the buildings date back to pioneer times. 

I think they are missing a bet by not having guided tours through the village. I would like to know more about the original buildings. 

There is a marker dedicated to the founder, Archibald Gardner, although he is actually buried in Salt Lake City. He was a pioneer who was born in Scotland and moved to Canada where he joined the Mormon church. Here is his marker listing his eleven wives.

My husband's ancestors, William Park and Jane Duncan were with Archibald's pioneer company when he crossed the plains in 1847. Wife #6 was Jane Park who is related somehow to my husband. 

Speaking of my husband, here he is by the witches' hats. We enjoyed looking at all the Halloween merchandise that is already up for sale in the village. A shop owner told me that August is none too soon to get ready for the Witch Fest in October. 

The village would be a beautiful place to take engagement or wedding photos. They want to know ahead of time if you plan to do that. 

There are several covered and open bridges over the creek that meanders through the property. 

We came to see the Farmer's Market but there was only one place actually selling produce. Maybe it's because of the Labor Day weekend.

The rest of the market were booths selling other items. 

We checked out all the booths. 

There was a singer, too, and he was really good. 

There are many regular clothing and food stores in the village. I was interested in shopping for chocolate and gelato  but I can't retain my girlish figure if I do that. 

It's easy to park and get around Gardner Village in a chair. I didn't check out the restrooms but there are four shown on the map.

This is a pleasant and easy place to visit for shopping, dining, attending an event or just strolling around. 

I am sure that the original pioneers could not envision that their flour mill would turn into a local mecca for entertainment but here we are.