This year the Christmas holiday will kick off with family activities, a parade and of course, Santa Claus himself will be making an appearance. 

It will be a busy weekend with Strathmore kicking off its holiday celebrations with returning favourites and new activities this year at The Spirit of Christmas Festival for 2022. 

Marketing and Communications Analyst with the Town of Strathmore Danielle Jensen is excited to bring these new activities to residents.

"Christmas is really about family, friends, and neighbours – and that’s exactly what we’ve got. We’ve really engaged with partners for this year’s Spirit of Christmas event. We’re grateful to community partners like the Strathmore Filipino Canadian Association and the Vault Cultural Collective to bring new events and add some fresh flair to returning festivities."

Some of the new activities will include Santa’s Workshop at the Vault Cultural Collective, and free Saturday movies at the Joyland Theater from November 26 to December 24.  These events, along with Christmas markets, will extend beyond the Festival Weekend and reoccur weekly throughout December too.  

Jensen added the traditional tree lighting will also take place with an exciting new twist.

"The Strathmore Filipino Association will be hosting this event and will even be singing some of the traditional Filipino carols. Celebrating Christmas is a big part of their culture and we’re excited for the energy we know this group will bring to the event."

After a great debut for the Downtown Cookie Walk last year, the Strathmore Wheatland Chamber of Commerce has stepped up to coordinate this event again this year.  There's only 60 spots available, and registration will be open very soon.

There will also be additions to head out and celebrate the holidays with some physical activity, the Skate with Santa is a family favourite and will return on the afternoon of November 27, This year, the activities have been expanded to include a free family Jingleball (Dodgeball) on November 26 and the Candy Cane Swim on the morning of November 27. 

There are many moving parts to the Spirit of Christmas Festival; Jensen shared what goes into the planning of an event like this.

"Once we have an idea of the types of events we’d like to include, traditional and new, we reach out and create partnerships. This makes planning a breeze because we all come together towards the common goal of ushering in the holidays for Strathmore"

To ensure that residents don't miss out on the favourites, the town has coordinated with the Ag Society's Celebration of Lights so that the parade and opening night at the grounds don't overlap on the 26.  Along with events held over the November 25 to 26 weekend, the 104.5 More Country team will be at Canadian Tire for the 3rd Annual Christmas Toy Drive in support of the Strathmore & Wheatland County Christmas Hamper Society. 

This is one of the biggest events that the Town holds during the winter and it is something that the team looks forward to planning each holiday season.

"Community spirit is our biggest reason for events like this, but helping our businesses to succeed is also important. Local businesses support our sports teams, arts organizations, and non-profit groups. By hosting events like the Spirit of Christmas we can attract more people to stay local for their holiday shopping. Community spirit and a thriving local economy are two great reasons for a celebration."

Additional details on all of this year's Spirit of Christmas weekend and month long activities can be found at StrathmoreNow.com/events. 
 

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