The annual Yuletide Festival took place at the NexSource Centre over the weekend on Friday and Saturday.
Every year the festival proves to be bigger and better as more local business set up shop for two days to sell their baked goods and Christmas decorations.
Hand-made goods were also available such as knitted hats, scarves and mittens for winter attire, including special winter gear for babies.
A wide range of jewelry was also on display making visitors walk around the festival a few times just to get a second look at everything thefestival had to offer.
Several auction items were also on display and were auctioned off.
The entertainment of child and adult choirs singing Christmas music made the season’s spirit come to life through out the festival.
Santa Claus and his wife were there looking perfect in their bright red outfits and greeted children with a big smile while sitting in theirs pecial chairs.
Everyone attending the festival had a great time and enjoyed everything, said Yuletide Festival committee member Graham Parsons.
“The entertainment is all local and very good,” he said. “People look at the silent auction items and the draw table items and they are enjoying it and they enjoy Christmas.”
He said the festival is getting bigger and better all the time and described the vendors as being world class.
“We’re overwhelmed with the business community and how they came to help out, it’s just awesome,” Parsons said.
This is the fourth annual year for the festival and all the proceeds go towards the Sylvan Lake and Area Urgent Care facility the town hopes to get.
Parsons said that so far over $38,000 has been donated to the urgent care facility from the proceeds of the festival.
He added that the festival’s proceeds this year were very successful and highlighted how the local businesses in the community really stepped up to being a part of the event.
But this festival wasn’t just about raising money for the urgent care facility Parsons said.
“It’s really about putting on a festival,” he said. “It’s not about how much money you make. We want people to enjoy it. We’re two festivals away from the NexSource Centre when we can really step up.”
reporter@sylvanlakenews.com