With snowflakes and a touch of Christmas magic in the air, Chase Country Christmas will welcome the holiday season beginning Friday, Dec 5 and continuing throughout the weekend.
Downtown street closures beginning at 4:30 p.m. today set the stage for the Annual Evening Parade at 5:30. Many vendors will line the streets selling yummy treats and it is a great opportunity to check out all the specials in the local businesses.
You can also keep warm and watch the festivities from around the bonfire in the ‘pocket park’ between The Flower Girls and Pete’s Pizza. After the parade with a donation to a local youth group, Pete Murray will take you on a traditional hayride, or you can watch the Chase Heat Junior B Hockey team and Chase Minor Hockey players encouraging the crowds to join them in good old-fashioned games of street hockey.
New this year will be our Children’s Christmas Store located next to Chase Jeweller. This store will be open Friday night and Saturday. For a very nominal price, the elves will help your child pick out a gift for their family and wrap them too. All profits from this store will go to a local charity. Also new this year, teen cosmic bowing from 7 to 9 p.m. and a barbershop quartet at the Village UBrew.
On Saturday you can join Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Lions Pancake breakfast while you are waiting for the Craft and Vendor Fair, upstairs in the community hall, in the legion basement and across the street at Creekside to open their doors. Between these three events you can come away with many delicious baked goodies, homemade crafts and much of your Christmas shopping.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at Safety Mart after the pancake breakfast for a storytime with the children and then later in the afternoon they will return there for picture time.
The Chase Heat Junior B Hockey Team will be on the ice for the free skating event Saturday at 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. and you may even come away with some autographs.
There will also be carpet bowling from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. outside Safety Mart and Family Bowling from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Village Lanes Bowling Alley.
The Chase Heat will also be on the ice Saturday evening to face the Kelowna Chiefs. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Art Holding Memorial Arena.
There will be on ice entertainment between periods. They will also be accepting food for the Chase Food Hamper as well as donations of gently used winter clothing and boots, which will be distributed locally. Who knows, maybe even Santa and Mrs. Claus will pop in for a visit too.
On Sunday you can top off your weekend with a little music by the Kamloops Community Band and our local high school band at the community hall.
It is a fun-filled weekend so you’re invited to come out and join in all the festivities.