BONNYVILLE – After packing away Halloween decorations, Bonnyville residents can get excited about the return of an in-person Festival of Trees happening at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre (C2) during the last weekend of November.
The Town of Bonnyville’s Festival of Trees, with the new addition of a Christmas Craft Show and Expo, will take place at the C2 on Saturday, Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Santa will be available for photos from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days before zipping back to his workshop at the North Pole.
An adults-only Wine Tasting Event will offer an ‘after hours’ sip and shop experience held on the Saturday evening from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Excited to be hosting the annual event in-person once again, Doreen Kushnir, an organizer of the Festival of Trees says, “We had to go virtual last year, which was great, but we’re glad to be able to turn the C2 into a winter wonderland to kick off the Christmas season in Bonnyville this year.”
Last year, the festival looked quite a bit different compared to previous years. The event was turned into a virtual online auction where the trees and items up for bid were displayed in the Town of Bonnyville’s lobby.
All of the proceeds raised from the Festival of Trees, including the silent auction and tree auction, will be going to the Bonnyville Child and Adolescent Mental Health Collaborative this year.
For Kushnir, being able to support mental health initiatives in a rural setting is important when resources can be limited.
“Living in a rural area, it’s extra important that youth have access to mental health supports when they need it. We’re glad to be able to support this cause through the Festival of Trees,” she says.
Christmas shopping locally
Giving residents another reason to take in the annual festival is the addition of a Christmas Craft Show and Expo organized by the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce.
This is not your regular craft show, says Serina Parsons, the Executive Director of the Bonnyville Chamber.
“Christmas is a time for giving, it’s also a time for connection and reflection,” says the executive director. “The Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce wanted to host an event that incorporated all of these things to our first Chamber Christmas Craft Show and Expo.”
She explains the craft show is designed to promote shopping locally, to give back to the community, to continue building vital community partnerships, as well as to promote businesses on the new Chamber Market e-commerce site.
“We have partnered with the Town of Bonnyville's Festival of Trees to bring all the magic of the season to our community,” says Parsons. “This partnership ensures vital funds are raised for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Collaborative, while also supporting local and giving back during a time that our businesses need it the most...While we are also a non-profit and depend on these community events to be successful, we know that success comes from working together.”
The Festival of Trees and the Chamber Christmas Craft Show Expo will be following the Restriction Exemption Program (REP). This will require visitors to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within the last 72 hours.
According to event organizers, this could change if provincial health orders change prior to the event dates.
