The World is a Stage
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Once upon a time, long ago, in lovely little town called Tillsonburg, the crafty people got together and decided to put on a craft show. It grew into quite an event and the Town of Tillsonburg decided to make it a big event, and using the craft show name, the Down Home Country Christmas was born.
But, as in all big events, after a while they become more and more difficult to put on and get volunteers. Many people don’t realize that if you are a devoted volunteer, you never get to enjoy a festival because you are working it and it takes a whole community to put on an event like that.
So over a few years the Down Home Country Christmas got smaller, for a great variety of reasons. However, the last couple years it began to grow again and is now slowly metamorphosing into a new festival, under the leader ship of our new Tillsonburg Cultural Advisory Committee.
This committee oversees festivals and events that occur in Tillsonburg and they are always looking for more. They are now looking to revamp the Christmas Festival into Greater Gifts Christmas Festival where we, the community, can take a little step away from commercialism and give of ourselves to others. Now I like the sound of that! For this year, it is still is the Country Christmas with a few new events started.
There are over 30 different things being planned for the month of December up to New Year's Eve. The list has already been in the Tillsonburg News and most likely will be again. So watch the paper and the Community Listings for all of them, because there are too many for me to give you here. Some are new and some are renamed and/or revamped.
A popular event is the “Greater Gifts Christmas Light” Contest. When you decorate your house, you light up your whole neighbour, bring joy to those who come to see them and you might even win a prize!
There are seven categories - First Time; Block Party; Music and Lights; Religious; Nostalgic, Commercial; and Anything Goes. All homes and businesses that are a Tillsonburg PUC customer are eligible. All contestants are requested to have a donation box for the food bank available at your location. Donations are to be brought to the Clock Tower for the New Year's Eve Celebrations. There are monetary rewards for winning and you can download the application at www.tillsonburgchristmasfestival.ca or call (519) 842-7473.
A new event is a Christmas Concert. We will have some wonderful, musicians performing at no charge and the funds raised from the event would go to the Helping Hands Food bank and Theatre Tillsonburg.
There are two concert dates with a wonderful line up of some professional and semi-professional musicians, as well as some great local musicians. The concert dates are Friday, November 29 and Saturday, November 30, all taking place at Otter Valley Playhouse, on Potters Road.
Musicians performing on Friday will be: Peter and May Black, The Steyaert Family, Brian Jean-Louis, Olivia Graham, Wall Maggs, Haley McLean, Gary Clement, Bill Eckenswiller, Liz Underhill and the Old Town Hall Community Choir (Waterford). Concert Time is 8 p.m.
Saturday's performers will be: Peter and May Black, The Steyaert Family, Jean St. Pierre Stompin Tom, Jaclyn Van Happen, Vogel Joy, Oxford Winds and the Carillon Bells. Concert time will be 2 p.m. Tickets available at the door: $10 for adults, $5 per child, or $20 for family.
There will be two tree lightings -- the Tillsonburg Christmas Festival Committee, with the Mayor and members of Avondale United Church, will light a tree at the church on Sunday, Nov. 17. At this time Mayor John Lessif will give out 100 gift cards to citizens of Tillsonburg and the surrounding areas and will ask that they do an act of kindness for someone, then log onto the website and enter what they have done, and pass along the card to another person. This unique gift giving tradition will continue until December 31st.
The second lighting is on the lawn of Annandale National Historic Site, Friday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. in honour of Tillsonburg’s Service Clubs. Of course Annandale House will be decorated to the hilt for Christmas. If you thought the Tillson mansion was beautiful during the year, wait until you see every room decorated for the holidays.
Turkey Supper at St. Paul’s, Crèche display and Bell Ringers at St. John’s; Battle of the Hors D’Oeuvres [Big Brother and Sisters]; Bazaars and Bake Sales; Gingerbread Decoration Challenges and of course the fantastic Station Arts Down Home Christmas Craft Show, and more, will keep everyone busy in town.