SUNDRE — Barring further restrictions or lockdowns, unofficial plans for the annual shop local kickoff to the holiday season are essentially lined up.
Although the Sundre & District Chamber of Commerce is not involved in organizing anything official for Sundown in Sundre, local businesses and organizations remain committed to offering deals and activities for the community.
Among those plans are physically-distanced photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Sundre & District Museum for a modest charge of $5 each.
“Sadly, no children will be sitting on Santa's knee,” said executive director Jaime Marr.
“However, we will have a one-horse, open sleigh the children can sit on, with Mrs. Claus and Santa standing beside.”
Times are scheduled Dec. 4-6 on Friday from 4-7 p.m. as well as on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Photos will be available for pickup at the museum the following week.
The event will also feature Christmas music and candy canes, as well as painting classes for kids offered by Arlet Devisser in the Youth Building during the same dates and times outlined above.
“Each painting class will need to be booked with her directly along with payment. Painting classes will take about an hour and a half, and we will have secured the space to allow for correct social distancing,” explained Marr, adding there will be only one child per table unless they are part of a family or cohort unit.
For more information on this activity, Devisser can be reached at 250-498-7202.
As of press time, Marr said plans were also tentatively lined up for a Christmas farmers' market at the Sundre Community Centre on Dec. 5-6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, that depends largely on the unfolding situation as cases of COVID-19 continue to increase in the province. So Marr encourages people who are considering coming out to keep a close eye out for updates on the museum’s website and social media.
Meanwhile, the Sundre and District Ministerial Association, which initially intended to sing Christmas carols and serve hot chocolate around a fire at the Greenwood Community Gazebo, had to pull the plug on their plans as a result of enhanced restrictions, said Gerald Ingeveld, a member of the association.
The association has for decades traditionally hosted a community carol service to kick off the Christmas season, said Ingeveld.
“We will have to cancel that for the first time in more than 60 years,” he said.
