聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Although Redvers has always celebrated Christmas as a community, this year they decided to do a little bit more, as they held the First Annual Redvers Winterfest 鈥� a full afternoon of activities and fun for all.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淢elissa Toms and I volunteered to help organize it this year, but the Town has always done a parade and activities,鈥� Christina Birch explained. 鈥淲e were planning a small event, but so many people and organizations volunteered to participate that it grew into something much bigger. We are really happy and super lucky to have the support of the community, because of the organizations and individuals that volunteered we were able to set up something for everybody.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Action began at 11 a.m. with a craft and trade sale running out of 452 Fit and Purity Spa until 7 p.m.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e had local businesses volunteer to organize a trade show, so we had local vendors and artisans from Redvers and the surrounding communities out for the day,鈥� Birch added about the day.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It was followed by a town wide scavenger hunt from 1-5 for kids and a business scavenger hunt 鈥淐hase the Flake鈥� for adults doing last minute shopping.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he scavenger hunt was a big hit 鈥� we had photos of 12 different locations in town and wonderful home owners who let us take photos of their decorations 鈥� so, kids and even some adults, went around and had to take a selfie with the decorations as they found them. When they returned the sheet they received a prize bag. It was a particular hit with the older kids, and we had over 50 out to participate in that.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淟ocal businesses decided to participate in 鈥楥hase the Flake,鈥� which was similar to the scavenger hunt and a prize was given out with items from the participating businesses.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A Christmas movie was shown at the school 鈥� How the Grinch Stole Christmas 鈥� with admission being a donation to the food bank.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he Redvers School Leadership Council decided to show a movie at the school, so the students organized that, and they did a fantastic job,鈥� Birch declared.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Free pictures with Santa were well attended and kids enjoyed the opportunity to sit and talk to Santa.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淪anta and Mrs. Claus flew in at the end of the credits of the movie and there were well over 150 kids that came for pictures with them,鈥� Birch stated. 鈥淪anta and Mrs. Claus were phenomenal. They showed up at the end of the movie, took photos with kids, were in the parade, stopped at the bon fire on Main Street, went to the Golden Age Centre, and even went on the Twinkle Tour. So, there was lots of opportunities for kids to see them even if they didn鈥檛 make it to the pictures.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淔unding for the Santa photos was handled by the Redvers District Development Fund and the Antler R.M., which allowed us to hire a local photographer 鈥� Germain Photography 鈥� to do the photos.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淩edvers Library hosted a colouring contest with the winner getting the chance to ride with Santa and Mrs. Claus on their parade float. The Library did a draw and Zailey Bennett won and she was able to take a friend along with her.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A few blocks away there was a variety of musical entertainment at the Golden Age Centre; while Public Skating took place between 2 -4 p.m.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing how talented the people from Redvers and the surrounding area are! I think people were really pleased with the line-up,鈥� Birch stated. She added, 鈥淪kating was popular as well, but we don鈥檛 have the numbers in just yet.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A very well attended Santa Parade made its way through town 鈥� Main Street was lined up. Many young kids were there excited to see all of the lights, but to also gather any candy the parade floats decided to toss to the crowd. The parade had approximately 25 floats entered and each one was of high quality 鈥� many people marvelled at the Town of Redvers鈥� giant snowman.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As the day came to an end Twinkle Tours were set up with a 10-person bus taking people on a tour of the town. Here they could vote for the best Christmas Lights and enjoy an evening of Christmas spirit. Winners will be announced on the 21st.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The day ended with a Senior Men鈥檚 Hockey game where the Redvers Rockets took on the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings 鈥� free admission for all kids and students. It was an exciting match-up, which didn鈥檛 see either side score in the first period. Action ramped up in the second with a goal by Craig Gaudet assisted by Braeden Magotiaux and a goal by Dakota Rose assisted by Craig Gaudet and Brady Gaudet.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Rockets blasted off in the third earning another three goals: Kevin Mann off Drew Hoff and Ryan Yates, Jordon Miller from Drew Hoff and Francis Lamotte, and Sean Jonassen from Braeden Magotiaux and Dakota Rose. The Rockets won 5-2.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淥verall we were really happy with how the day went and we鈥檙e looking forward to next year,鈥� Birch stated. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing what kind of event you can put on when the community and organizations come together like this. The small event we originally thought we were planning just kept evolving; we are very thankful for all of the help in planning and organizing the event.鈥�
