Agricultural
Agriculture and tourism are two of Alberta’s top industries so agri-tourism opportunities are plentiful and varied. Try a country holiday on a working farm, visit a rural fair, a farmers' market, pick your own produce or buy direct from the grower. Spend some time on the traditional and then discover what local producers are doing to meet new market demands for regional cuisine. The sky's the limit.
Country Holidays
To get a taste of life in rural Alberta, spend a few days on a working farm or ranch. Take part in as many activities as you like. Learn to milk a cow, feed the chickens, shear a sheep or help with the haying. Or just take a fishing pole down to the nearest stream to catch a trout for supper—all this with meadows, foothills, mountain views, lakes and forests as your backdrop. For a complete list of options visit Alberta Country Vacations Association. Our Hutterite community is a major contributor to Alberta's agribusiness. Many of their farms welcome visitors. Visit Country Soul Stroll and you'll want to take the whole family on a self-guided drive through Sturgeon County near Edmonton, where you can tour through farmers' markets, heritage gardens and working farms.
Alberta Farmers’ Markets
Many farmers’ markets—where 80% of the produce is grown locally—are open year round and attract large crowds seeking freshness and organic options. The Calgary Farmers’ Market and Edmonton’s Old Strathcona are but two in our major cities. Calgary's Crossroads Market is an eclectic mix of farm fresh produce and an extensive flea market at ground level, with the second level devoted to the galleries and antique shops of ArtSpace and home to the Loose Moose Theatre.Rural markets draw city dwellers throughout the summer. A favourite near Calgary is the Millarville Farmers’ Market—one of the largest outdoor markets in Alberta. Choose from local produce, organic meats, fresh cut flowers and herbs, homemade pies and preserves and eclectic arts and crafts. Don’t forget—this market is only open on Saturday mornings, so go early. For a complete listing of farmers’ markets by town or by region, visit Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.
U-Picks and Farm Gate Sales
For the best in fresh, head out to one of our U-pick farms and dig up your own hill of new potatoes. Pick seasonal berries and veggies or cut your own flowers. Numerous farms, many of them organic, sell protein products such as beef, pork, lamb, bison, poultry and eggs directly to consumers. For a comprehensive regional list of Alberta's u-pick and direct sales farms that produce fruit, vegetables, protein and specialty items visit Alberta Farm Fresh Producers.Agricultural Events, Festivals & Country Fairs
When you go to the Calgary Stampede don't miss the agricultural pavilion. For many of us, it's the highlight of the Stampede. Head out to the country and you'll discover towns all over the province that celebrate their rural roots with country fairs and festivals. These fun filled agricultural events feature best of breed competitions, craft and horticultural exhibits, local produce for sale, with entertainment and educational activities for the whole family. Visit the Fairs & Exhibitions Directory for a guide to upcoming fairs, horticultural and livestock events around the province.Heritage Gardens
Horticulturalists interested in visiting heritage gardens—those which reflect the style, gardening practices and plant varieties of particular places and time periods—have many to choose from in Alberta. Thirty minutes from downtown Edmonton is the enchanting Devonian Botanic Garden with an authentic Japanese garden and collections of native and alpine plants. Another popular spot is the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. Must see municipal heritage gardens around the province include Red Deer’s City Hall Garden, Riley Park in Calgary, the Brewery Gardens in Lethbridge and Millarville’s Native Garden.Especially for the Children
At Butterfield Acres near Calgary, children can milk goats, play with bunnies, go for a pony ride and collect eggs. Butterfield offers week-long day camps for children as young as 3 years. Activities include farm crafts, bottle feeding baby animals and tractor rides. For 12 to 14 year olds, there is a “farmer in training” program that provides a more in-depth experience of working on a farm.More Info...
To learn more about the many agri-tourism opportunities across the province, go to the Search feature on the top right corner of this page and click on Advanced. Choose the Category tab and click on Activities & Adventures. Under Outdoor: Spring/ Summer/Fall, select the two farm related categories and hit Search.Related Holiday Ideas
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