Old Fashioned Christmas Grows Despite The Weather

A motor coach tour will bring winter visitors from Prince Edward Island this weekend so they can join in Old Fashioned Christmas activities at Sherbrooke Village Restoration from Friday, Dec. 5 to Sunday, Dec. 7.

The bus passengers are not the only ones making a special trip to Sherbrooke for the festivities. Regular summer visitors from New York State and Vermont, and one visitor from California have made travel plans especially so they could attend this year's Old Fashioned Christmas. And last weekend, on the first official weekend of this year's event, Sunday attendance was enhanced by two bus loads of seniors from Richmond County who joined the activities through the auspices of the Richmond County Recreation Department.

Indeed, wet weather failed to dampen the spirits of those participating in opening weekend activities. About 3,100 people attended opening night events, presented by Maritimes & Northeast Pipelines. Although that is slightly down from last year's record attendance of 3,500, craft sale exhibitor registration and customer attendance was up more than 25 per cent. Participation in children's activities also more than doubled and new activities, such as a dance recital by the Antigonish Creative Dance Association and family skating sessions at the St. Mary's Recplex, helped push overall preliminary attendance figures up by 20 per cent when compared with last year's opening weekend attendance.

The fun continues this weekend with craft and pantry sales, wagon tours and other seasonal offerings, including a Christmas Ceilidh on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3:30 p.m. at the Courthouse. The weekend's events conclude on Sunday with an evening concert by singer John Gracie, who is beginning his Christmas As I Remember It tour with his appearance in Sherbrooke.

For more information on events contact George Brothers at 1-888- 743-7845 or visit the Old Fashioned Christmas website at http://museum.gov.ns.ca/sv/christmas/ .