ESTERHAZY — This is the weekend folks in Esterhazy look forward to as their kick-off to the holiday season. Moonlight Magic happens on Friday, Dec. 6 from noon until 9 pm, then the fun continues on Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm with a day full of activities for Winterfest.
“It’s always a lot of fun, as long as the weather is nice,” said Crystal Sabo, Planning & Economic Development Director with the Town of Esterhazy. “Last year, the weather was beautiful; the year before, it was freezing. It was like -30ºC—it was so cold! But, we had a really good turnout last year, so that was awesome.”
No matter if the temperature is mild or wild, Sabo noted that community spirit trumps whatever the thermometer is trying to do outside.
“Every year, I feel like everybody kind of waits for this to support local,” she said, adding that the current Canada Post labour dispute might also affect purchasing habits this year. “I’m really hoping that more people will stay in town to do some Christmas shopping.”
Moonlight Magic
There will be plenty of opportunity to shop locally as local participating businesses will be open until 9 pm. on Dec. 6, featuring special sales for the event. Sabo explained that some stores have even had hourly sales in the past as a way to entice shoppers.
Shoppers will also have a chance to enter at participating stores for a chance to win Esterhazy Bucks.
“The first prize is $200, in Esterhazy Bucks,” explained Sabo. “Second prize is $150 and third prize is $100 so everybody who spends any money on that Friday in town at the participating stores gets to enter in, so that’s always a good way to keep local as well.”
The Esterhazy Bucks program has been popular in town, something Sabo is enthused by.
“There’s lots of people who are on the Esterhazy Bucks program, which is really nice,” she said. “Lots of different businesses.”
At Anytime Fitness, an indoor vendor market will be running from 4 to 9 pm, offering up some unique gift ideas. Running roughly the same time—from 4 to 7 pm—there’s beef on a bun plus two sides for $15 in the Legion Basement.
From 6 to 8 pm, Crossfit K20 will have an indoor kid’s obstacle course to help run off all that after-supper energy!
At 7 pm, the annual Light the Night takes place over at the Historical Park with Mayor Randy Bot lighting the Christmas tree.
“The town will serve hot chocolate and popcorn for free, we give out glow sticks and we have local carollers,” Sabo said.
Plus, to keep attendees warm and set a festive mood, members of the Esterhazy Fire Department will once again be on hand to light a couple of bonfires.
Winter Festival
Sunday starts with a U9 hockey tournament at the Dana Antal Arena with the first game at 9 am. Other facilities in town will be busy as well, as Sabo explained.
“At the hall, we have indoor bouncers,” she said. “We’re going to do some cookie decorating, we’re going to do some crafts, and some games.”
The indoor kids activities run from 11 am to 3 pm at the S.N. Boreen Centre, plus pictures with Santa runs from noon until 2 pm.
At the Esterhazy Curling Club, a turkey/ham throw happens from 11 am to 3 pm, something of a local tradition and a great way to raise money for a cause.
“It’s been a great fundraiser for the club, so they love doing it,” Sabo said.
Rounding out the afternoon is a movie over at the Maple Leaf Theatre, a free showing of Home Alone which is sponsored by the Town of Esterhazy.
“We’ve done Elf for the last three years, so we thought we’d switch it up a bit,” said Sabo.
Both the Moonlight Magic and the Winter Festival are the result of a collaboration between the Town of Esterhazy, the Esterhazy Business Association, and the Esterhazy Economic Development Committee.
“People look forward to it every year, and businesses look forward to it every year,” Sabo said. “They’re always asking, ‘when is it going to be,’ so it is something that I think brings the community together.”
