The village of Fairlight is offering shoppers an authentic small-town Christmas experience as community organizations and local businesses hold their annual Christmas Open House on Nov. 8 and 9.
"We're open both days here at the tea room," says Brenda Thompson of Home Sweet Home Tea Room & Gift Shop."It's our Christmas open house and we're planning on having seven decorated Christmas trees. Decorating everything in both the tea house and The 2nd Edition gift shop across the street takes us about 10 days."
"We'll have free munchies, including Christmas dainties, cheese balls, veggies and dip, as well as coffee, tea, and hot apple cider. In both locations, we'll have Christmas merchandise and also merchandise that makes great gifts for any occasion. Our Christmas stuff was ordered in January, so we're pretty excited to have it out for our customers at this event."
"We're expecting hundreds of women here if the weather is good," adds Thompson. "But everyone is welcome. Our local used and new furniture store-Fairway Sales- will be open, and there's also a craft sale in the community hall and a soup and sandwich luncheon at the Drop-in Centre, all on Saturday."
Craft sale organizer Shirley Campbell says that 30 exhibitor tables in the hall have been sold out for weeks. "They've been sold out for three weeks already, if not longer," she says. "The exhibitors are from all over and there are some returning favourites and some new exhibitors that we're bringing into the mix, too."
"They'll be selling crafts, sewing, jewellery, and some baking. We also have a gentleman who will be selling his barn board work, including some birdhouses he's made. We have baby stuff, two or three different lines of kids' clothing, and even some canine cover-ups."
"Most of the exhibitors are selling things that are handmade and homemade, but we do have some things like kids' clothes from an awesome online clothing store, including Disney items- and some things like Sunset Gourmet merchandise."
Saturday's soup and sandwich luncheon will benefit the community club, says volunteer Ione Krainyk. "It's all homemade and we invite everybody to come on out."
"We're very fortunate," says Thompson. "It's a town-wide event and it's been a success every year. That success is all due to everybody who works here. It's a genuine small-town experience and we hope people come out and enjoy it."
Home Sweet Home Tea Room and Gift Shop and The 2nd Edition are holding their Christmas Open House Saturday, Nov. 8 from 12:30-8p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 9 from 12-6 p.m.
Fairlight Community Craft Sale will be held at Fairlight Community Hall, Nov. 8, 11-4 p.m. The Soup and Sandwich Luncheon will be held at the Fairlight Drop-in Centre, Nov. 8 from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
