The Township of Minden Hills is welcoming people to its Christmas events on Saturday, Nov. 18.
It will kick off with the annual Santa Claus parade at 11 a.m. The route begins at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena, marching along Parkside Street, heading south on Bobcaygeon Road, and finishing at the township municipal parking lot off St. Germaine Street.
Right after the parade is Christmas in the Village. It will be held at the Heritage Village of the Minden Hills Cultural Centre from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation.
Santa will be in the village after the parade to hear children’s wishes and have photos taken until 2 p.m.
“Visitors are free to explore and shop at the local artisan market. They can enjoy homemade baked goods available for sale in the Bowron House and browse the oldfashioned candy shop in the Welch Room,” the township said.
There will be a Santa letter writing station as well as Christmas ornament crafting booths. A live music performer, Eric Swanson, will sing and play popular Christmas songs between 1-4 p.m. Also, a book sale by the Friends of the Haliburton County Public Library (FOHCPL) will be available on site.
The Agnes Jamieson Gallery will be open and feature the current exhibit, Shifting Lens, by the Ontario Society of Artists – Eastern Hub. The Minden Hills Cultural Centre is located at 176 Bobcaygeon Rd.
Haliburton festivities
Meanwhile, the Haliburton and District Lions Club will be busy Nov. 19, erecting the town tree on Highland Street.
Jim Frost said the tree will go up about 11 a.m. Sunday at the usual spot beside the Royal LePage offices.
The tree was donated again this year by Vince and Barb Hammond from their property in Fort Irwin.
It’s being cut, picked up and erected by the town volunteer fire crew. They will also then hang the Christmas lights.
The spot for the tree is on the property of Anthony and Juliane vanLieshout who also donate the hydro for the lights.
“Again, we invite families to come and hang their ornaments on the tree during the season,” Frost said.
