After 11 years celebrating Christmas, Plamondon's Festival Du Noël saw many members of the community walk through its doors on Dec. 3 to ring in the festive seasons.
The festival was held at the Plamondon Festival Centre and coordinator Lena Labonté said that there were more people that came this year to visit the craft tables than last year, but it doesn't matter because it is all about celebrating the holidays together.
"We saw about 450 people or so coming in,” Labonté said. "Weather is always a factor but a lot of people responded well to the festival which is always nice for us.”
The festival was done in two parts. There was a bench show where prizes could be won and a separate crafts show that local home crafters and business could sell their wares.
As part of the bench there, there was a gingerbread house competition that was open to individuals, youths, families, and even schools. Although there were less entries than there were last year for the gingerbread competition, Labonté feels that it was still a great show for all to see.
"There were 35 gingerbread house entries this year, which is less than last year but a lot of people had a great time taking a look around,” Labonté said.
There were two winners from the competition – Michelle Dowhaluk from Grassland too Best in Show and Paulette Paré and Family went home with Reserve of Show.
In addition to the competition, the festival also had special guests appearance by Santa and an international face painter extraordinaire.
Santa had 92 people come up and sit on his knee while they had their picture taken by a professional photographer. Labonté noted that the kids had an especially good time.
"The little ones really were endearing with Santa,” Labonté said. "They wanted to give Santa their personal wish list and they had a great time.”
As for the face painter, Miyako Palmer, she was able to paint 65 faces little faces with various holiday pictures and brought smiles to many young faces, according to Labonté.
The craft show also saw many visitors exploring the tables. There were 38 vendors with everything from knitted items to jewellery and leather making. This is something that Labonté feels it gives the community a chance to not only sell their homemade items or wares from home business, but it also gives others a chance to do some holiday shopping.
"We like to give the opportunity to the community to sell their goods,” Labonté noted. " It was a great success because of the community response to it all.”
Labonté also noted that the whole event was a success because the amazing team members on the committee that she works with every year.
"There are 12 of us on the committee and we work so well together. We each have our strong suits at what we are good at and that is why this festival is always a success. We work well together,” she said. "It's a great committee and we have great spirit.”
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Compared to last yr, just as many ppl if not more, about 450 or so
Weather is a factor always as well
Ppl responded well to the festival which is nice for us
Bench show: gingerbread house showcase,
children's child's play,
holiday sweet sensations,
bars, sweets, breads, cookies
festive home crafter projects,
homade centrepieces, gift bags
knitted, jewlery, scrapbooking, card making, woodworking, quilting
artwork,
oil
acrylic
watercolour
pencil
photography
There were 35 gingerbread house entries: 1st place/best of show went to michelle Dowhaluk and 2nd reserve of show went to Paullette Paré and family
Lots of visitors browsing, less entries than last yr
12 members on committee
300 paper booklets with greena dn red covers and the rest online
kids craft corner
santa photos
92 sitting with santa, 25 more than last yr
professional photographer
little ones really endearing andnwanted to give santa their personal wish list
face painter miyako palmer, painter 65 faces, paitns internationally
38 vendors at the crafts show
we give opportunity to home crafters and business
all day concession and tables for ppl to sit and socialize
success because of great committee and community response
ppl had a grat time
great committee and great spirit
instead of admission was non-perishable food items that wne to the fire department's food hampers
