"Tis the Season' a successful Christmas event
If anyone in the community was struggling to find their Christmas spirit, they surely discovered it on Saturday at the 3rd annual ‘Tis the Season community event. The day was packed with activities beginning with the morning family Christmas Photo shoot at The Residence and culminating in a spectacular with a very impressive Christmas Light Parade that lit up the night.
Event organizer Sara Smith couldn’t contain her beaming smile, and with good reason; as this event gains more popularity each year, fulfilling its mission of spreading the magical spirit of Christmas to everyone in the community.
Local photographer Caitlyn Zalluski captured 50 different families in her lens, noting that this was about ten more then previous years.
Few things conjure up the spirit of Christmas quite like a horse-drawn sleigh ride through snow-tipped trees, accompanied by the soft sound of sleigh bells ringing. Larry Robertson of Spirit Sands Wagon Outfitters brought this idyllic scene to life, delighting nine full loads of excited children. While the sleigh rides have always been popular, Larry attributed the exceptionally high turnout this year to the mild weather.
Meanwhile, shoppers browsed an impressive selection of vendors at the Christmas Craft Sale, which also featured a Christmas Cake Raffle hosted by the Glenboro Ag Society. “The raffle showcased 16 wonderful cakes donated by our board members and other volunteers,” happily reported Kathy Noel.
One of the vendors, Knitty Gritty n’ Things, owned by Courtney Cabernel of Cypress River, introduced sewn children’s clothing to her inventory of knitted items this year. “Both the knitting and clothing went over really well. I also received plenty of custom orders,” said the young entrepreneur. She emphasized the value of events like these for growing her business. “While social media is great, nothing replaces personal connections and meaningful conversations during these community events,” she added.
The downtown library was bustling as it hosted a table filled with everything from sugar cookies to homemade breads and Christmas dainties. Upon entry, participants purchased a small box and were given gloves to wear while selecting their treats. Myrtle Nichols of Glenboro Pet Rescue noted the success of the event but shared that, despite many donations, they still ran out of inventory in record time. “It was hilarious watching the kids pick out their items wearing gloves that were far too big for their little hands,” Myrtle said with a laugh.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, the Glenboro Legion served up the smells and tastes of the season, handing out 160 hot dogs and even more cups of hot chocolate.
The holiday cheer continued at the Gaiety Theatre, where Jingle All the Way played for 73 attendees during the Saturday matinee which began with the deep sound of “HO, HO, HO” echoing through the room, as none other than Santa himself made an appearance.
From the laughter of families creating memories to the awe’s heard upon watching the impressive light parade and the dazzling Christmas light displays throughout town, ‘Tis the Season truly captured the essence of the holidays.
