LAC LA BICHE - It was a busy weekend full of early Christmas festivities in the hamlet of Lac La Biche. This weekend, the ‘Festival of Trees’ was held at the Bold Center on Thursday and is ending on Sunday afternoon. Organizers at the event are holding a plethora of events within the many community spaces across the facility. The ‘Light Up the Night’ parade trekked through Main Street in the hamlet of Lac La Biche Friday night with hundreds of locals attending to see the floats, the 2021 Junior Citizen of the Year recipient Ainsley Kruk awarded and the 50-foot tree lit through the night.
Festival of Trees
To kick off the events, organizers at the ‘Festival of Trees’ began by opening the viewing of the 55 Christmas trees donated— by local businesses and community members— for the ‘Magic of Trees’ raffle to the public. The big events started Friday and Saturday including the ‘Shopping Extravaganza’ incorporated with the ‘Cookie Walk’, the North Art Exhibit and Show, and photos with Santa.
Hundreds attend the ‘Festival of Trees’ this weekend supporting vendors, and the over 40 organizations that the ‘Festival of Trees’ committee sponsors—with the tens of thousands of dollars they plan to raise over the four days.
“It’s going really good, I’m hoping we’re going to sell out. If we sell out, our two big projects—the Light of Christ Catholic School playground and the Kids Nutrition Program—we will be able to support them,” said lead organizer Pat Boon-Anderson, among all the other groups they plan to help.
The North Art Exhibit and Show—in partnership with Portage College, Lac La Biche Art Club, and local schools had hundreds of art submissions to be purchased and viewed.
The Santa Pictures—hosted by Lac La Biche's Kinette Club for the 10th year— was sold out alongside the 126 cookie boxes at the ‘Cookie Walk'’ this year, said organizer Kristen Shewchuk.
Light Up the Night
Hundreds attended the ‘Light up the Night’ parade this year. Over 23 local businesses and community members participated in the event that started at the Lac La Biche Museum and ended at the downtown offices of Northern Lights Public School (NLPS).
This year, at the parade, Santa and the 2021 Junior Citizen of the Year recipient Ainsley Kruk pulled up to the main stage at the NLPS office in a decorated Coca-Cola truck donated by Britton's Your Independent Grocer and Coca-Cola.
Throughout the parade, candy, stuffed animals, and hot chocolate was handed out. Also, local Molly Fyten contributed a special bagpipe musical performance prior to Kruk receiving the award.
Both events plan to come back next year providing the community with an even bigger and brighter weekend, said organizers.
Coming up
On Sunday afternoon, organizers at the ‘Festival of Trees’ will draw winners for the 55 donated entries for the ‘Magic of Trees’ raffle. www.lakelandtoday.ca will have more information about the winners soon. Stay tuned.
