Popular Christmas community events are making a comeback following a COVID hiatus and residents couldn’t be happier.
Chemainus Little Town Christmas takes place Saturday, Dec. 3 from 1-4 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion 191 Hall on Chemainus Road.
Related story: Little Town Christmas
There will be all sorts of games and door prizes for the kids, with photos with Santa from 2-3 p.m.
“The kids like it,” said event spokesperson Christina Godbolt. “They come from Ladysmith, they come from Crofton, they come from all over.
“Kids get everything free. Adults, we usually ask for a donation if they can afford it. Some people can’t.”
The event receives great community support to make that feasible for the organizers.
“It’s a society, a non-profit,” said Godbolt. “The businesses give us prizes so we can have a raffle.”
The Chemainus Legion and Rotary Club of Chemainus are the main sponsors that provide financial support to the event. The Rotary Club will have its now-famous smores tent from the Chamber Christmas Market set up at Little Town Christmas as well.
There will also be hot dogs available, donated by 49th Parallel and served by Rotary and Legion members, and hot chocolate.
A station to make wreaths will again be located inside the hall. The famous Chemainus Community Band will enhance the festive spirit by playing Christmas music.
Also on Saturday, Chemainus Elementary School is hosting a winter market from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be vendors, a bake sale, raffle baskets, crafts for kids, face painting, concession and scholastic book fair.
Admission is free and open to the whole community. After a couple of hard years with minimal fundraising, the school is working toward adding natural playground pieces to the existing outdoor classroom and playgrounds.
Sunday, Dec. 4 is Crofton For Christmas, sponsored by the Crofton Community Centre Society and the Warmland Church.
Related story: Crofton celebrates Christmas in style
The event is famous for its Christmas parade that begins at 7 p.m.
“It’ll go down Robert Street to Queen Street and then up on Joan ending at Warmland,” explained organizer Gabor Horvath.
“There will be music, hot dogs and hot chocolate and pictures with Santa. Santa will arrive in a firetruck, as is tradition.”
Non-perishable food items will be collected for the Harvest House food bank at the free concession stand.
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don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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