INNISFAIL – Children had the best of two versions of the Grinch last weekend at the 5th Annual Innisfail Grinchmas.
On Nov. 30, Storybook Corner presenter Kyle Letourneau alternately read kids the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and the new sequel How the Grinch Lost Christmas!
In the original 1957 version by Dr. Seuss the Grinch is truly a cad; a cranky, solitary creature who lacks a real heart only to find out happiness can only be found there.
And now kids have the recent sequel that offers a message of how anyone, including the Grinch, can best express it, especially during the holiday season when egos often take over.
“Grinch just wants people to know that it doesn't matter who you are, that there's always going to be unconditional love,” said Brittany Letourneau, whose family, as well as other volunteers, have made it a sacred mission over the past five years to bring Dr. Seuss’ original special message of Grinch to the community.
“There's so many struggles that everyone faces day to day but they will get through it, and you just got to believe that everything happens for reason and everything will be ok,” said Letourneau. “And when you’re here you are family. “You're not alone.
“Grinch was alone for so long, and he just needed one person. He needed Cindy Lou.”
Innisfail’s annual Grinchmas is now fully entrenched in the hearts of hundreds of Innisfailians, and like Grinch’s heart, those numbers continue to grow.
Grinchmas is a free family event, which this year was held from noon to 4 p.m. at the Innisfail United Church.
The event offered children and adults games, activities, gifts, hot chocolate, cotton candy, and plenty of chances to meet the Grinch.
Letourneau and her family have financed the increasingly popular holiday season event mostly by themselves.
While the church donated the space, a large portion of the needed funding came from Letourneau’s Grinch Gift Shop, an entirely not-for-profit venture that commits 100 per cent of its proceeds over to the costs of hosting the annual Grinchmas for the community.
Letourneau added the Innisfail Kinsmen once again contributed financial support, and there was always her family proudly contributing.
Her brother Ryan Stewart was in charge of the always popular Snowball Scramble game for the kids.
The family chipped in to make more than 400 containers of free popcorn and candy canes.
Letourneau’s mother and father helped put together more than 400 craft kits for children.
“So, it's just been a huge family help,” said Letourneau.
And most impressive of all for all organizers and helpers, is that Innisfailians keep coming back to the annual Grinchmas event, which had humble beginnings five years ago.
“A lot of these people came from the very beginning,” said Letourneau. “I remember some of them from when the very first Grinchmas happened when the Grinch walked down the street handing out candy canes.
“I think this (event) creates a huge financial stress relief to a lot of families,” she added. “They get to come in for the entire day. They don't have to worry about bringing anything with them. I always do it completely free.”
Letourneau said she wanted to make this year’s Grinchmas bigger and better as it was the milestone fifth annual event.
“I gave out free t-shirts this year,” she said. “I've got necklaces for all the mums and the aunts and the grandmas and preteen girls, and they all have a positive affirmation sticker on them because I think sometimes we forget mom's help bringing in the magic at Christmas time.”
And things look good for Grinch’s arrival in 2025. The Grinch Gift Shop will be at the Hometown Christmas market on Dec. 7.
“I think we’ll be fine for next year,” said Letourneau.
