Believe it or not, the season for Christmas shopping is upon us once more. Taking part in neighbourhood events, craft sales, and markets is a great way to spread the joy and generosity of the season in our local communities. When you purchase your gifts at local sales, you end up giving two gifts—one to the person on your mind and another to the vendor you purchase from.
Many of these sales seek to support community initiatives, so consider shopping local this year and let your gift-giving go a little further than usual.
Service to Seniors Christmas Craft Sale
Shoppers can come by the Golden Friendship Centre in Niverville on Saturday, November 9 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., check some items off their Christmas shopping list, and pick up a bowl of chili and cup of coffee in support of Niverville’s Service to Seniors program, which supports our local senior citizens by providing resources that promote good health and independent living.
“We have bakers, knitters, crafters, pierogi makers, barbie clothing, Avon, and Tiber River (natural household products including body care),” says organizer Damien Gagné. He adds that the goal of the project is to “raise money to run programs like seniors game nights, healthy eating classes, and seniors outings.”
- For more information or to book a table ($10), contact Damien at 204-388-9945 or sts@heritagecentre.ca
Howden Christmas Craft Sale
The Howden Community Centre, located at 1078 Red River Drive, is hosting its annual Fall Craft and Vendor Sale on Saturday, November 16 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Admission is free and a homemade soup lunch will be available for purchase.
“We have approximately 25 different vendors registered,” says Kim Glowach, co-organizer of the sale. “For being a small community centre, we have had a great turnout the last two years. We are hoping for a larger turnout this year! We offer a hot lunch and coffee and baking by donation. All donations go back into the hall to help with improvements to the hall and the community.”
Glowach adds that the hall is supported through events like this sale, donations, and the proceeds of facility rentals.
“The hall is a main staple within our community since 1953,” she says. “It was originally located further down Red River Drive but had to be relocated due to the 1997 flood. Since then, it has been renovated and a new addition has been added. It has become a great venue for weddings, showers, anniversaries, birthday parties, memorial services, recreation events, and family get-togethers.”
- For booking inquiries, contact howdencc@gmail.com.
Niverville Winterfest Craft Sale
The fifth annual Niverville Winterfest Craft Sale and Market will be held on Saturday, November 16 between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Niverville Heritage Centre. Nonperishable items will be collected for Niverville Helping Hands. Admission is $3, with no charge for those aged 14 and under.
Last year’s Winterfest hosted more than one thousand attendees in the festively decorated Heritage Centre atrium.
All proceeds raised through this event support the work of the Niverville Chamber of Commerce. Expect to find gifts, home décor, sweets, clothing, and other items from the many local artisans, crafters, and vendors who have signed up.
“We are once again full, with 80 crafters, artisans, and direct sellers and we have a wait list,” says organizer Dawn Harris. “We have doubled in size since our first event in 2015. We have both ballrooms and the upper and lower atrium of the Heritage Centre occupied again this year. One of the great things about our event is that regardless of how many people there are, there is always lots of space for people to walk around and see all the vendors. There is always something new to see. About 30 percent are new vendors every year. Our event is a great place to get into the Christmas and holiday spirit.”
- For more information, visit www.facebook.com/nivervillewin… or www.niverville.com/wf
Whitetail Meadow Christmas Market
The Whitetail Meadow Christmas Market, located at the junction of Highways 311 and 200, will run on December 1 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
“There will be over 50 vendors including artisans and commercial popups,” says organizer John Falk. “Whitetail Meadow Event Centre is the perfect venue and grounds for a market like this. The old rustic barn, ponds, meadow, bridges, etc. make it a very picturesque setting. You can check out their website to get a better visual if you have never been there”.
Falk says that he organized a spring market in May 2018 that was so successful that customers and vendors suggested he do a Christmas market as well.
“Our Christmas Market in December 2018 was very well attended with over a thousand adults coming, not counting those under 18,” he adds.
Double Take Cakes & Desserts will be supplying food for the café and Perk Coffee Bar will be serving beverages alongside them.
“Double Take Cakes & Deserts is based out of Steinbach and offers amazing homemade food,” says Falk. “Guests can enjoy [the food] at the market as well as take product home. Perk Coffee Bar is operated by Chris Ewen from Île-des-Chênes and serves lattes, etc. using Deluca’s beans.”
Admission to the market for adults will be $5 while those under 18 are welcome to attend for free.
Christmas Town
Christmas Town is an event that local families won’t want to miss when it arrives in early December. Christmas Town is hosted by Friends of Niverville and all proceeds will go towards the development of the town’s under-construction Community Resource and Recreation Centre.
This event is being held on December 7 and will run in two timeslots, the first from 9:00–10:30 a.m. and the second from 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Tickets are now available to pre-purchase online at www.friendsofniverville.com or at the Niverville municipal office. Tickets will also be available to purchase on-site.
At Christmas Town, kids will get the chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Clause and get their photos taken with Santa.
“It is a great way for families to get Santa photos done without having to drive into the city,” notes organizer Ester Jofre Raftis. “[Christmas Town] is the only Christmas event in town catered for the kids… kids will receive candy canes from Santa when they get their photo taken and will leave with a special gift.”
The gift will come in the form of food to leave out for Santa’s reindeer on Christmas Eve.
Special activities will run throughout the morning, including storytime with Mrs. Clause, crafts and games stations, letters to Santa, and more, all of which is included in the price of admission.
There will also be a bake sale, and the committee is accepting donations of baked goods for the fundraising effort. Coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks will also be available to purchase.
Admission is $5 per person or a family package is $25, for a maximum of six people, and that includes one digital Santa photo. Santa photos are otherwise $5 each (cash only please).
- If you would like to volunteer for this event, or donate baked goods, please contact Heather at multiplex@whereyoubelong.ca.
The Christmas Night Market at Whitetail Meadow
If you’re looking for a local 100 percent handmade artisan event this Christmas season, plan to be at the Whitetail Meadow Christmas Night Market. This evening event will be the complete experience, with live music, complimentary wine, a café, and diverse local artists and vendors. Expect to find new and unique products here as the majority of the artisans will not be at the Whitetail Meadow Christmas Market on December 1.
The Night Market will be open from 4:00–10 p.m. on Saturday, December 7 at Whitetail Meadow. The event will feature Double Take Cakes & Desserts, Perk Coffee Bar, and door prizes. Admission is $5 but attendees under 18 come enter for free.