Sherbrooke Christmas Event Continues to Grow
More lights, more participation, and more people--that's the story of Old Fashioned Christmas in Sherbrooke this year. Organizers were looking at strong growth for the fifth consecutive year as the annual event wrapped up on Dec. 4.
Opening night ceremonies were attended by more than 1,400 people, about 1,000 of whom participated in the candlelight procession down Main Street. Visitors from as far away as Vermont, U.S., came to take part in the community event.
"It's encouraging to see growth in visitation from outside the area. At the same time we're seeing increased participation from the community," said Brenda Alexander, chair of the Old Fashioned Christmas Committee.
Craft show attendance was up 22 per cent while children's activities were up 11 per cent and operated at capacity levels. Sale of accommodations packages were up 10 per cent compared to last year, while the number of decorated doors more than doubled. Restaurants and retail outlets in Sherbrooke enjoyed healthy sales as well. Overall visitation for the two weekend event increased by more than 14 per cent.
"We're very proud of the work done by our Old Fashioned Christmas Committee and our many volunteers. Without them we would not enjoy the great support of the community," said Ms. Alexander. "We'd also like to recognize the participation of Sherbrooke Village Restoration, who provide the spectacular setting and much of the human resources for this event. Old Fashioned Christmas has been able to achieve this growth through the development of some great community partnerships."
An added highlight to this year's festivities came when Sherbrooke Village's Old Fashioned Christmas event packages placed first in the Atlantic Region Christmas in Canada category of the Canadian Tourism Commission Winter Packaging Contest. The event will be highlighted in a winter lure brochure that will be published by the tourism commission in early 2001.
As a regional winner, Old fashioned Christmas is entered in the national contest where judges will consider marketing, promotion and the packaging component of each event.
Planning for next year's event will begin in January, 2001, after organizers have had a chance to examine the results of a visitor survey initiated for this year.