The holiday season is upon us and so are the abundance of Christmas festivities and activities around the City and County of Wetaskiwin.
Starting this week, families across Wetaskiwin can get into the Christmas spirit as events kick off. Friday Nov. 25, Wetaskiwin Fire Services is excited to host their 11th annual Santa Clause Parade. The parade will start at Baker Funeral Chapel on 50 Ave and finish at city hall in Wetaskiwin.
Santa is set to catch a ride on a Wetaskiwin fire engine and will be helping firefighters collect new toys and gifts along the route for the Secret Santa program with Wetaskiwin’s Family and Community Support Services. Non-perishable food donations for the food bank will also be collected.
A hot chocolate stand will be set up at 53 and 50 street before the parade for attendees and the parade is expected to last around 30 minutes and will begin at 6:45 p.m.
Wetaskiwin Health Foundation is also hosting a weekend line up of Country Christmas events this year to help fundraise for their current campaign — Give to Life. This campaign focuses on raising funds to enhance emergency cardiac care at the Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre.
Starting with a Country Christmas barn dance on Friday Dec. 2. The evening will begin with cocktails followed by dinner and dancing and an appearance by the mechanical bull. During the evening there will be a Calcutta Auction where auctioned riders will face the bull. There will be eight guest riders that people can bid on and if your rider stays on the wild bucking bull then you both walk away with prizes!
The Wetaskiwin Health Foundation is also hosting the Country Christmas Market Dec. 3, at the Wetaskiwin Drill Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Plenty of local businesses, makers, bakers and crafters will be in attendance as vendors and Christmas workshops will run throughout the day including a kids snow globe and card workshop running at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., a holiday centerpiece workshop at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and cookie decorating with special Disney and Marvel guests from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Registration for the workshops can be done online at www.wetaskiwinhealthfoundation.com.
Entrance to the market is free with a food bank donation.
To wrap up the Country Christmas weekend a Breakfast with Santa will be held the morning of Sunday Dec. 4. There will be two sessions to register for and the cost includes breakfast and a visit and photo with Santa and his green friend the Grinch.
Saturday Nov. 26, Millet Winterfest with Christmas crafts, goodies and gifts will take place at Millet’s Griffiths-Scott school from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
On Dec. 8, for the first time since the start of the pandemic, the CP Holiday Train will make its return with stops in Millet and Wetaskiwin. Residents can enjoy the holiday lights of the train and performances from Country singer Tenille Townes and indie artist Aysanabee when the train rolls in.
The Holiday Train will stop in Wetaskiwin at the CP ES Building on 4009 50 Street at 5:30 p.m. and will arrive in Millet at the pedestrian crossing on 50 street and 48 Ave at 6:50 p.m.
