Hub Staff
Children from St. Joseph's Kindergarten French Immersion and English classes, along with preschool children from the Kids Street Cooperative Nursery School and Sparks leaders from Port Elgin Sparks Group Unit 1 took time this morning to decorate the Christmas tree at Coulter Parkette, downtown Port Elgin ready for tonight's Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce General Manager, Joanne Robbins said that they invite the local schools each year so the children can decorate the tree with artwork they have made. “It's become a tradition,” said Robbins. “We've done it for about eight years now.”
Sparks Leader, Deanna Buckland was decorating the tree with crafts that the Sparks, who will be at the ceremony tonight, had made from takeout containers. They also made bird feeders for the tree. “We were teaching them about sustainability and recycling and use what you've got,” she said.
The Tree Lighting Ceremony ties in with Port Elgin Shopper's Night where early Christmas shopping can be done and bargains can be found at many local stores.
Events at Coulter Parkette will start at 6pm with a winter market, live reindeer, Liv-A-Little Smores with proceeds to the food bank, and Mr. And Mrs. Claus will be there too. There will also be horse drawn sleigh rides sponsored by Bicyclette Rouge (behind the store) and a chance to view the entrants of the Gingerbread House contest at the Port Elgin library.
The Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place at 7pm.
Christmas fun will also continue into the weekend with Breakfast with Santa at The Queen's on Friday, from 9 to 11am, cookies with Mrs. Claus at The Wismer House from 10am to 1pm, sleigh rides at Cathy's Flowers 'N Treasure, sponsored by Sutton-Huron Shores Realty Inc. Brokerage from 11am to 3pm and crafts and movies at the Port Elgin Library from 1 to 3pm.
Saturday will also see more fun at Coulter Parkette from 2 to 4pm with a Winter Classic Road Hockey Challenge, a children's petting zoo and a Liv-A-Little food bank fundraiser featuring cookies, hot chocolate and crafts.
