Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival comes to Lincoln this weekend

Back in 1974, it started as a one-day craft show. Now in its 49th year, the Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival, a four-day celebration in Lincoln is considered to be the region’s premier harvest celebration – this year running Oct. 6, 7, 8, and 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

With over 150 unique craft and artisan vendors, delicious foods, craft beverages and wines, fresh, local farmers’ market vendors, live music on the main stage and children’s entertainment, historical demonstrations, heritage tours, and guided nature hikes, this annual event raises money for the Ball’s Falls Conservation Area every Thanksgiving weekend.

“The intention was simple: to raise money for conservation and environmental programs that were not otherwise funded. This remains the purpose of the Festival today,” say organizers. “From its humble beginnings as a one-day craft show, the event has become a family tradition.”

This year marks the second in-person festival when the pandemic saw it canceled in 2020 and 2021.

Niagara craft breweries and wineries will be on hand to tickle the taste buds, including Lincoln’s Bench Brewing Company, Newark Brewing Company, Flat Rock Cellars, Kings Court Estate, and Calamus Estate Winery.

Over the past few years, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority has worked to include a successful Farmer’s Market at the event.

“As a business focused on conservation and the environment, the NPCA believes the Farmer’s Market component of the event to be a perfect fit as it offers local farmers the opportunity to sell their produce, fruit, vegetables, flowers, meat, eggs, etc.” noted organizers.

Visitors can also travel back to the 1800s with on-site excursions to the Victorian-era Ball Family home, historical chapel, and original grist mill, as well as the Heritage Village of Glen Elgin where volunteers in period costumes will be demonstrating blacksmithing, wood carving, handweaving and spinning.

For the kids, there will be magic shows by  Calvin’s Magic and Scoop McCoy, as well as free face painting by Masquerade and train rides by Niagara Antique Power.

This year’s entertainment line-up will see fan favourites like Jonesy, The Blackstones, Figure Four and Usual Suspects take the stage.

Admission is $9 for adults and $7 for seniors and children ages 3 to 11. Visitors can buy them at the gate or pre-order them HERE.