The third annual Winterfest took off in Niverville on Saturday, November 18, on a cool day with a sprinkling of snow. The day was an unqualified success.
The day’s festivities started at 9:00 a.m. at the Niverville Elementary School with the Holiday Shoppes, hosted by the Parent Advisory Council. There were plenty of shoppes for children and parents alike, such as the Sweet Shoppe, Mystery Shoppe, Elves’ Workshoppe, and Holiday Gift Shoppe (no parents allowed in this one). Santa also paid a visit, with children able to sit on his lap and tell him what they would like for Christmas. The Holiday Shoppes hosted 565 people.
The Niverville Winterfest Craft Sale & Market opened its doors at 10:00 a.m. at the Niverville Heritage Centre, hosted by the Niverville Chamber of Commerce. The market, which has grown significantly every year, featured more than 70 vendors, mostly of handcrafted and homemade items. Indeed, this year’s market was one of the largest of its kind in southeast Manitoba. Local artisans showcased a range of goodies from handcrafted jewellery, candy, woodworking, concrete art, and body, skin, and haircare products. More than 800 visitors swung through the market before it closed at 3:00 p.m.
Santa was a busy man on Saturday. After stopping by the Holiday Shoppes, he flew on over to the Niverville Arena to lace up his skates. Santa saw over 100 boys and girls there, skating with their parents to Christmas tunes.
To end the day, residents gathered in the Niverville Credit Union parking lot for the annual tree-lighting ceremony, hosted by the Niverville Chamber of Commerce. Christmas carols were sung while the scent of candles and hot chocolate filled the air. The evening concluded with sleigh rides, with approximately 100 people waiting patiently to catch a ride around town.
The Winterfest committee would like to thank the many volunteers who put in countless hours to help make the event a huge success for everyone involved.
