Merridale Cidery to celebrate fall with Harvest Season Festival this September

Harvest season on Vancouver Island is a wonderful time of year.

To celebrate the changing seasons and the fall harvest, Merridale Cidery & Distillery will be hosting a month-long event that will honour favourite fall traditions while adding a new element to the mix.

Merridale Harvest Season, running from September 27th to October 31st, will invite visitors to experience the harvest in the heart of the Cowichan Valley.

Harvest season will offer cidery-goers the opportunity to witness the transformation of the orchard from ripe apples on the trees to the beginning of a new cider vintage.

Visitors will be able to enjoy seasonal experiences that celebrate farming, food, community and the changing landscape of Vancouver Island cider country.

“Merridale has always been about the connection between the orchard and the bottle,” said Jan Docherty, owner and chief disruptor at Merridale Cidery & Distillery.

“Harvest is the moment when all of the work, care and patience of the growing season come together. We wanted to create an experience where people can feel that connection—not just taste the finished cider but understand where it begins.”

On September 27th, the season will open with the eighth annual BC Cider Harvest Festival, bringing together more than 10 BC craft cideries for a celebration of local cider.

In the Merridale orchard, guests will be able to enjoy cider tastings, seasonal food and the atmosphere of the orchard as it moves into its busiest season

From then until October 31st, Merridale’s Harvest Season will continue with apple harvest activities, pressing days, seasonal dining, family-friendly orchard experiences and opportunities to enjoy the farm as it changes from week to week.

Alongside Harvest Season this year, the cidery is doing something special.

Frequent guests of Merridale Cidery will recognize Mika, the dog who spends her days running through the orchard. Merridale received Mika from the BC SPCA, and said they were lucky to do so.

To celebrate Mika and give back to the BC SPCA, Merridale Cidery & Distillery will be hosting the Harvest for Hounds Fundraiser, supporting the BC SPCA Cowichan & District Community Animal Centre.

The fundraiser is intended to raise awareness and funds for local animal welfare in the area.

A portion of proceeds from dog photography sessions on the cidery will be donated to the BC SPCA, along with $1 from every bag of Merridale-made dog biscuits and every Barkuterie Bowl—their dog-friendly take on charcuterie—sold during Harvest Season.

“Merridale has always welcomed people to slow down and enjoy the orchard,” says Docherty.

“For many of our guests, that includes bringing their dogs along for the experience. Harvest for Hounds gives us a way to celebrate those connections while supporting an organization doing important work in our community.”

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate the fall harvest while contributing to a good cause, head down to Merridale Cidery & Distillery this fall!

For more information on Merridale’s Harvest Season or to learn more about the Harvest for Hounds fundraiser, visit their website here.