If you try to see next Friday’s Snowflake Festival through the eyes of a preschooler, you’ll soon realize ‘magic’ isn’t a big enough word to describe the event. In the frosty darkness of downtown St. Albert, everything will appear to be sparkling and to the little ones, who don’t often go out at that mysterious time, the sounds of music and people and the smells of hotdogs and candy will create lasting memories.
The children might hear the jingling bells on the MP Stables’ horses as they go clomping down Perron Street with their big wagons to deliver people to the light-up-the-tree ceremony in front of the community hall.
Just before 6:30 p.m., Santa Claus will arrive on a firetruck and he and other dignitaries will lead the countdown that initiates the lighting of the tree that towers over the 76-year-old community hall. Nearby, artist Kelly Davies will complete his carving of an ice sculpture and as the tree lights up, the ice will glow what seems to be a gazillion rainbows.
Soon Santa will head inside to the warmth of the hall. There will be gift bags for the children as they wait in line to see the jolly old elf. Olympian Joshua Riker-Fox will be there too. Riker-Fox is a pentathlete and a four-time Canadian National champion.
“It’s an opportunity to meet an Olympian and to talk to him about his experiences,” said event manager Lori Pratt, from the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce.
Families may then head across Perron Street to the old Drayden Insurance office space, where there will be tables set up with craft and colouring activities, as well as sparkling tattoos.
Children may like to write a card to Santa Claus and drop it off at the post office. Along the way there will be food vendors and sticky things to eat like roasted apples, deep-fried cinnamon churros and hot chocolate. Local service club groups will be out as well as the Kinettes and the St. Albert Transit drivers with the Fill-A-Bus campaign. Everyone is invited to step on the bus to donate a toy or a food item for the Kinettes’ Christmas Hamper campaign.
The petting zoo from Morinville’s Horse Sense farm will be across the street from the post office.
“Children will see nativity animals in the petting zoo,” Pratt said.
A shinny hockey game will be ongoing on St. Michael Street. This event, sponsored by Servus Credit Union Place will add to the clattering noise too as participants chase up and down the street in hopes of scoring a goal.
Two caroling groups will entertain at the festival. The University of Alberta Choir will be on the corner of St. Michael Street and the Pickwick Carolers will be here and there throughout the festival.
This year St. Thomas Street is being renamed for the evening as ATCO Winter Boulevard. A sound stage will be set up where local entertainers will perform. St. Thomas Street is also the place to catch a ride on the horse-drawn wagons. Mar Orthodontics will have a Festive Family Photo Op booth set up.
Things begin to heat up in front of city hall where Fable Entertainment will present three flame performers at 7:15 p.m., 7:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.
More wonderful sounds are inside St. Albert Place as the St. Albert United Church Bell Ringers perform. There will be storytelling in the library, kids’ crafts in the museum and a balloon artist. Down the hallway there will be decorated gingerbread houses and families may vote on the top three.
“The gingerbread houses have been made by employees at different St. Albert businesses,” said Pratt, who estimated there would be at least 12 houses to see.
“There will also be a place to decorate your own cookies,” she said.
Finding a parking spot will be tricky as some six to seven thousand people usually attend the Snowflake Festival but St. Albert Transit will offer a Park and Ride service from the Village Landing station. Taking the bus back to Village Landing will be fun too as the little voices start to quiet down and yet can’t quite call it a night.
“Remember! Remember when they lit up the tree! Remember the spinning fire wands. Remember the big horses. Remember … !”
The Snowflake Festival takes place Nov. 25 along Perron, St. Michael, St. Thomas and St. Anne streets from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. and inside St. Albert Place. All events are free, except for the food vendor items.
