LaSalle’s “Last Call Before Fall” another big success

Valerie Bates (left), Mike Bates, Donna Neville and Randy Fox from Amherstburg were in LaSalle last weekend for Last Call Before Fall.

The end of summer means the transition to fall and what better way to celebrate it than with a party.

LaSalle’s Event Centre was the site of Last Call Before Fall with entertainment, food vendors and various brands of craft beer and distillers.

“It’s an opportunity to get together with family and friends in their community. When they leave we ask them if they had a good time and they always say yes,” said LaSalle’s manager of recreation and culture Scott Britton.

Saturday’s entertainment opened up with Andrew MacLeod followed by headliner and well-know local group, Bigg Wiggle. 

The previous evening began with Rochelle Day along with Carson Janik.

“The whole point of the event is to support local. When we can show case the talent, that’s why we are here,” said Britton.

Besides lots of great eats, a variety of cocktails and mocktails, and music there was a restful outdoor atmosphere where visitors could kick back around a fire and enjoy the fall weather.

Randy Fox, Donna Neville, and Valerie and Mike Bates made the trip over from Amherstburg and were enjoying themselves around the fire pit.

“My good friend has a curious nature and we wanted to check out this venue,” said Neville of her first time to the LaSalle Event Centre.

To pass the time there was cornhole and a giant beer pong set up. A free shuttle service to the Vollmer Centre was provided by LaSalle Transit.

Last Call Before Fall is in its third year and as explained by Britton and LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche, who was in attendance Saturday night, the event replaced the old Craft Beer Festival.

One of the vendors this year was Windmill Ridge from Harrow which offered up cider. A couple of the favourite blends were made from pears and another peach.

Joe Bonzide (left) and Mikayla Fockens of Windmill Ridge were one of the vendors at the event, which was held at the Event Centre at LaSalle Landing last Friday and Saturday night.

“It’s a fruit orchard in Harrow. Three years ago, we started to make cider. We had had a hailstorm that wiped out the fruit,” said Joe Bouzide of Kranicz Orchards on Ridge Road.

Another interesting taste this year was vodka from Cooper Rose Distillery of Windsor. They served up a cran-apple mule that was colourful and had a nice taste. 

According to CEO Melissa Roberts they are available in local LCBO and are the official vodka of Golf Canada. She noted that they are in the process of moving their business from Windsor to Amherstburg this fall.

LaSalle’s “Last Call Before Fall” another big success

By Fred Groves