Lac La Biche Festival of Trees brightens the weekend

Chris McGarry Nov 25, 2023 11:14 PM
The Christmas Shopping Extravaganza for the 2023 Festival of Trees featured around 70 vendors who came from across the Lakeland region and beyond for the event. The vendors sold a variety of crafts, baked goods, artworks, and much more. There were also tables set up by local nonprofit organizations. One of these vendors was Jane Drummond. Drummond, who lives in the Ardmore area and owns a small business called Hook and Needle, sews and crochets products such as sleep sacks, bucket hats, and bowl holders, many of which were on display at the Christmas Shopping Extravaganza. She arrived in plenty of time to get her tables set up and get ready for the crowds of shoppers who arrived after 10 a.m. Chris McGarry photo. ▲
Artisan Norma Herrabout, who specializes in using sublimation to put various types of Indigenous designs on items such as coasters, tumblers, tea towels, and keychains, drew quite a few people to her table at the Christmas Shopping Extravaganza, including Wes and Elaine Cardinal. Chris McGarry photo. ▲
What better way to start off a day of fun activities than with a pancake breakfast? As Kidsport volunteer Omer Moghrabi takes a refreshment break, fellow Kidsport helper Amanny Abougouche serves up some fresh flapjacks to Cadziana Beyer and her daughter, Camille at Saturday morning's breakfast. ▲
There was plenty of excitement for the kiddies at the Festival of Trees, including making houses out of Pop Tarts. Ryleigh Wladyka concentrates as she works on her colourful creation. Chris McGarry photo.▲
Irene McCullough walked around checking out the various vendors, including Rustic Ranch Arts, owned by Solene Lamoureux, who was with Jessie Callioux behind the table. Chris McGarry photo.▲
Nothing says Christmas like Elves. Paislee Jasman and Makenna Colosimo, members of Northern Beat Dance Academy, played the part as they walked around the Bold Centre handing out candy canes and good cheer to people. They stopped to give some candy canes to Hadley Wowk, who happily accepted the small gift. Chris McGarry photo. ▲
Leyla Gordey admires the gingerbread elf town she helped to build with members of the Lac La Biche 4-H Club. While the house itself was constructed of gingerbread, it was decorated with an assortment tasty treats including marshmallows, Gummie bears, Hershey kisses, mints, starbursts, and pretzels. The house was entered into the gingerbread competition that was organized by Portage College. Chris McGarry photo. ▲
Leanne Cote peruses the wall of artwork produced by students at Light of Christ Catholic School at the Fabulous North Art Show and Sale. Chris McGarry photo. ▲
Marianne Gervais and Liz Watson enjoy a cup of tea and a chat at the seniors tea that was held at the Lac La Biche Curling Club inside the Bold Centre. Chris McGarry photo. ▲
Santa and Mrs. Claus made a special appearance at the 2023 Festival of Trees on Saturday, visiting with kids like Skye Bergnach, who was very eager to tell Kris Kringle what she wanted him to put under the tree this year for her. Chris McGarry photo. ▲
The glow from more than 65 decorated Christmas trees inside the Community Hall at the Bold Center was impressive.▲
Festive family fun. Hopeful visitors to the weekend's Festival of Trees put thousands of raffle entries into the boxes around the trees. ▲
Janessa Quintal places a ticket inside of a box next to a tree. ▲
And now all that's left to do is win one. All 70,000 raffle tickets were sold by late Saturday in the Festival of Trees namesake event at Lac La Biche's Bold Center▲

LAC LA BICHE - A room-full of beautifully decorated Christmas trees, a gymnasium full of home-based business kiosks, featuring Indigenous artistry, baked good, clothing and crafts, a fieldhouse full of festive activities, music, and a visit from Santa. And that was just a portion of the events and activities that filled the Bold Center with thousands of visitors over the weekend.

Running from Nov. 24 to 26, the annual Lac La Biche Festival of Trees also included the Fabulous North Art Exhibition and Sale hosted by the Lac La Biche Art Club, a hockey tournament hosted by the U11 Lac La Biche Clippers, pancake breakfasts, a seniors' tea, silent auctions and fundraising food concessions. Bouncy castles, a gingerbread contest, a spaghetti supper hosted by J.A. Williams High School, and colourful characters dressed in holiday costumes from the Northern Beat Dance Academy also made for a busy weekend.

Sunday's schedule featured the continuing Shopping Extravaganza, another pancake breakfast and more chances to see the decorated trees.

A full list of the Christmas Tree raffle winners will be posted after the tickets are drawn.

Proceeds from the weekend events to back to local groups including the dozens of agencies that volunteered over the weekend.

The Festival has been an annual event in Lac La Biche for since 2010.

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