Wagon rides, Christmas movies, cookie decorating and a visit from Santa are just some of the activities to take in on Friday when the Snowflake Festival takes over St. Albert’s downtown Perron District.
“The highlight I think is lighting our tree, which happens at 6 p.m.,” said Lynda Moffat, president of the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce, which has helped organize the festivities.
Preceding the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree will be speeches by local elected officials, including Mayor Nolan Crouse, member of Parliament Brent Rathgeber and MLA Ken Allred. Chamber chair Mike Howes will also be on hand.
From 6:15 to 8:30 p.m., Santa Claus will be stopping by the Community Hall, also known as the North Pole. Inside, kids can decorate cookies as they wait to speak to him. The hall will also feature snowflake ice sculptures.
Over at St. Albert Place, the fun continues with the elves in the workshop helping children make special take-home lanterns from 6 to 8 p.m.
There will be a Children’s Lantern Parade from St. Albert Place to the Community Hall at 8 p.m.
New this year is Grandin Theatres showing 30-minute Christmas films at 6:20, 7, 7:40, 8:20 and 9 p.m. while the St. Albert Public Library will be reading stories around the Christmas tree. There will also be food and activities hosted by the Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games.
Horse and wagon rides will be taking place throughout the Perron District from 6 to 9 p.m. There will also be live reindeer, roaming mascots and the St. Albert Singers Guild, who will be singing Christmas carols.
Participants are reminded to bring non-perishable food items for the 9th Annual Fill-A-Bus Campaign and the Kinettes’ Christmas Hamper Campaign. The Salvation Army will be serving hot chocolate and collecting donations on Friday as well.
Various events will also be taking place at the Musée Héritage Museum until 8 p.m., and at Profiles Art Gallery until 9 p.m.
Moffat said the chamber decided to hold the event on a Friday instead of a Thursday evening this year.
“We did that hoping that the families, kids can stay out a little bit later. They don't have a school night and they just absolutely love, love, love the horse and wagon rides,” she said.
Last year, she said the wagon rides were still going strong at 9 p.m.
“And they were still packed.”
This is the second year that the event has been organized by the chamber of commerce.
"What we're trying to do is set it up so that in future years what we will have is a multi-day winter festival,” said Moffat.
She said downtown businesses will be open late on Friday and will be offering refreshments.
"Store owners have really come together to make this special for everyone,” she noted.
"We just want to encourage everyone to come down and bring their family and bring their neighbours and make an evening of it.”
