OLDS — There will be another edition of Olds Fashioned Christmas this year, but it will look different, due to COVID-19 restrictions, coordinator Heather Dixon says.
Dixon gave the assessment during town council’s Nov. 1 policies and priorities meeting.
Last year, due to COVID, a Winter Wonderland walk-through was held, but with some restrictions. The annual Santa’s parade of lights morphed into Santa’s Merry Motorcade -- a drive-by parade that wound through town.
On the other hand, fireworks were held at Olds Rotary Athletic Park in the evening with onlookers watching from their vehicles.
Dixon said the 29th annual celebrations, including the light-up event and associated activities will occur Nov. 20 at Centennial Park and the Cow Palace.
Like last year, some changes will be incorporated, due to COVID.
At 5:25 p.m. the lights in Centennial Park will be illuminated.
At 5:30 p.m. the Santa Claus parade will begin. However, this year, instead of going along 50th Avenue, it will run 50th Street from Olds College to 57th Avenue.
“Some of the reason for that is the market that happens at the Cow Palace. It just got to be too congested and too many vehicles and people in that area,” Dixon said.
"If we go straight down, that gives the vendors from the market time to get out and safely remove all of their things and no traffic back-ups or confusion there.”
From 6 until 8 p.m. that night, the Cow Palace hosts events such as photos with Santa, as it has in the past.
However, this year, there will be some changes, due to COVID restrictions.
The Cow Palace will be capped at one-third capacity, about 400 people.
As a result, people will have to wait to go inside and masks will be required. Hand sanitizer will be there too.
“We are going to have people stationed at one side, and at the other, just like the farmers' market this summer. They were counting as they came in, counting as they came out,” Dixon said.
“There’ll be communication between both people so that we do not run over that limit.”
Once inside, children will be able to have socially-distanced photos with Santa taken as well as pick up hot chocolate, cookies, and goodie/craft bags. Entertainment will be provided too.
“There won’t be any mingling encouraged. You go in, we have some music playing. It will be instrumental, so there’s no singing allowed,” Dixon said.
Coun. Darren Wilson asked if kids and parents will be able to get hotdogs, as in years past.
Unfortunately not, according to Dixon.
“This year, it’s hot chocolate and cookies; it’s easier to take those in your hands. Not as many people standing around, milling about, putting ketchup and such on their dogs,” she said. “Maybe next year. We’ll be positive and hope for hotdogs next year.”
Once again, fireworks are slated to go off, but this year, that will happen at 8:15 p.m.
Dixon said the committee received feedback from some parents that an earlier start time for fireworks would be appreciated.
“(On) Canada Day, those little people have to stay up ‘till 11 to see fireworks, so it’s a lot of fun when they get to see them a little earlier, and I’m sure the parents appreciate the less cranky children the next day,” she said.
Dixon said they the committee was able to afford fireworks again because, due to COVID restrictions, “we’re not doing some of the same things that we usually do in the Cow Palace so we have a little more leeway with budget.”
Dixon said last year there were “some more challenges with volunteering.”
This year, with 19 months or so of experience with COVID and COVID restrictions, organizers have a better idea of what can be done and how to stage it.
“I think people this year, there’s more of an understanding of COVID, there’s more of an understanding of what we can do to make ourselves safe,” she said.
“Some people have their vaccinations. And with vaccinations and masking and, you know, hand-cleaning and all of those things, people are feeling more comfortable.”
There are other COVID-related impacts as well.
For example, Dixon said this will be the first year that the long, green piece of paper listing Christmas-related events won’t be available.
“People look for it because it has all of the events. Unfortunately this year, many of the groups decided not to do events, just because it was so uncertain,” she said.
“Last year, a lot of them had to cancel events at the last minute. There was a lot of money put out and they weren’t feeling comfortable doing that again this year.”
Instead, Dixon said, a marketing coordinator will send out information via social media.
"We’re looking at some other innovative ways as well to get the information out as well to people,” she added.
Dixon said this year, for the first time ever, an Olds Fashioned Christmas logo has been created.
“Olds Fashioned Christmas has never had a logo before, so this is exciting,” she said.
Councillors thanked Dixon for her report.
Wilson asked her to pass those thanks on to the volunteers involved as well.
“These are special events that help build the community, especially in these times, so it’s important that we keep these events going,” he said.
