Yes, Virginia ... the snowflakes are finally falling and the temperature is now on the negative side of seasonal averages instead of above it. This is November in Alberta. Welcome to winter, and that means that it's time to accept the cold, hard facts in the warmest, brightest way possible.
Let's have a party and invite the whole community!
That's exactly what St. Albert and Morinville are preparing to do, as they always do. Year after year, the Snowflake Festival and the Lite Up the Nite Festival bring people together in peace, in harmony, but mostly in parkas and wool mittens for the kind of yearly gathering that will surely carry them warmly through their December slumbers and other hibernatory activities. They come in droves to celebrate the season as visions of sugarplums, horse-drawn wagons, ice sculptors, and fireworks dance in their betoqued heads.
Let the flakes fall in St. Albert
Be prepared for all kinds of weather and fun on Friday when the Snowflake Festival arrives in the heart of the Perron District. From 6 to 9:15 p.m., the streets will be cordoned off but hearts will be wide open with glee.
It's one of the premiere events put on by the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce and it has many facets to it – "It has a lot of moving parts" as Lori Pratt, the Chamber's events manager, puts it – so there's something for every family member, young and old.
It's all about St. Albert: the people and its local economy.
"It's definitely for the community but also for its businesses. It's been amazing to watch the development of it. Everybody really cares about the festival, whether they're Perron District businesses or outside of the area," she explained.
"We have businesses from Riel Park who are loaning us trucks and manpower to lift decorations. We have businesses from all over that are entering the gingerbread house contest. That's just a small example."
A number of downtown businesses will also be open late to offer a bit of respite plus some shopping opportunities along with some festive treats for consumers.
And if that doesn't help stave off the evening chill, then perhaps being in a crowd of thousands will do the trick. Pratt said that the organizers expect anywhere between 5,000 and 7,000 people to come out on Friday.
"It depends on the weather. We're ready to go. It is a winter festival, so …"
Some of the highlights of the evening include live ice sculpting, a petting zoo, lots of festive foods and hot beverages, crafts, a flame performance, horse and wagon rides, live entertainment and more. Kids can pick up free gift bags and balloons and send postcards to Santa before visiting the petting zoo. A radio station will also be on site to add some electricity to the air. They might just be set up near the caroling corner too.
Of course, there's also a visit from everyone's favourite elf straight from the North Pole and the lighting of the big tree right in front of the St. Albert Community Hall.
"We were just noting last week that the tree is getting taller every year. It just adds to the atmosphere," she enthused.
If you need to cool off from all of that excitement by warming up inside St. Albert Place then you can find lots to do there too. There's cookie decorating and holiday story time, plus performers from the St. Albert Children's Theatre will have special performances. That's also where you can vote for your favourite gingerbread house ... but don't touch. That's why you have the cookies first.
The park 'n' ride from the Village Transit Station will be in full effect for the evening too, making sure that visitors don't fret about finding a parking spot.
The Chamber is also running a social media contest. It's encouraging people to take pictures of their best Grinch faces to share online with the #GetGrinchy hashtag.
And don't forget the Fill-a-Bus at the intersection of Perron and St. Anne streets. If you can, please bring new, unwrapped children's toys and non-perishable food items to help support the St. Albert Kinettes annual Christmas hamper campaign.
Town-wide and weekend-long party in Morinville
If a one-evening party isn't enough for you, then head 15 minutes north of St. Albert where the winter torch burns for three days straight.
Morinville's annual Lite Up the Nite Festival runs from Friday, Nov. 25 through to Sunday, Nov. 27. A performance of A Christmas Carol that was planned to be held on Friday evening was cancelled last week due to low ticket sales.
Attendees are encouraged to remember that the Morinville Fill-a-Bus will also be at two locations during the daytime for people to offer their support. Bring non-perishable food donations to the Morinville No Frills from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then at the Morinville Sobeys from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday only.
The town's big fiesta, however, happens on Saturday. The daylong activities start as they should: by filling people's bellies with pancakes.
The Lions pancake breakfast with Santa runs from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Morinville Rendez-Vous Centre at 9913 104 St. It only costs $5 per person (or $10 per family of four with an extra cost of another $2 per additional family member). Thankfully, this is not a BYOS event as syrup will be provided.
After breakfast, people should head over to the Morinville Community Cultural Centre for a snow pile full of family activities. Keep the kids in the festive mood with holiday crafts and games (with prizes), Sparkle Fairy tattoos, a hot dog lunch, photos with Santa, and bouncy castle activities, all from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Children's entertainer Mary Lambert will also perform A Mary Christmas at 1 p.m.
Those in the giving spirit can also offer new, unwrapped toys for the Santa Store collection from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
The Farmers' Market Christmas Craft Fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Morinville Community High School at 9506 100 Ave. Entry fee is $2.
The Musée Morinville Museum (10010 101 St.) has a special Old-Fashioned Christmas display on from noon to 5 p.m. It's free.
"They have lots of pretty amazing antiques that they set up with a Christmas theme."
The Morinville Community Library (10125 100 Ave.) is having a silent auction and fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thankfully, the bookish nook will be staying open a little later that day as it's also a good place to hang out till 6 p.m. as you get an excellent – and indoor – vantage point to watch the parade pass by, "for anyone who doesn't want to stand outside in the chilly weather," Ducharme said, probably thinking of the gas fireplace right next to the picture windows looking onto Main Street.
The Lite Up the Nite Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. heading west on 100 Avenue from the intersection with Grandin Drive all the way through the centre of town to 102 Street, where it heads north for one block and then east for a block at 101 Avenue where it ends.
Kathleen Ducharme, the cultural and events programmer with the Town of Morinville, remarked that it's going to be quite a sight to see.
"It looks really good. We have quite a few participants in the town parade and lots of hot chocolate for everybody. And we have lots of free activities for the families."
People should hang around as Santa will light up St. Jean Baptiste Park right after the parade immediately followed by the always crowd-pleasing fireworks display that will be set off in the field next to Morinville Public School. That explosive excitement will be brought to the masses courtesy of Bernie Houle as always.
"It's going to be a really beautiful show," she added, noting that many people come to this community gathering from the surrounding area including Cardiff and Redwater. The number of attendees, she expects, will likely total in the hundreds and possibly thousands.
"I was told to buy a large amount of candy for the parade," she laughed.
On Sunday, families can enjoy the Skate With Santa event at the Ray McDonald Sports Centre from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Most festival activities are offered free of charge and are suitable for all ages.
