Best Community Christmas Events

Our first official snow in Waterdown this evening.     A brutal commute for those who drive to work anywhere, especially out of town!      While driving tonight was tenuous, from the warmth and safety of my home I look out the window and see the beauty of the new fallen snow and Christmas lights.    Really puts me in a Christmas mood (as if I wasn't already!)

Christmas bazaars, home tours and Tree Lightings have been happening for weeks now.    Last weekend saw a wonderful, although frigid night for the special nightime Waterdown Santa Clause Parade.     This weekend marks even more activities in Waterdown and area.

The Waterdown BIA is inviting the community to join in for the 1st Annual Choral and Candle Walk this Saturday December the 1st.     People are asked to gather at Magnolia House Spa located at 20 Main Street North where the Waterdown District High School choir will lead off the singing.    Participants can purchase candles for the walk with proceeds going to Drummond House (a transition home for women & children in Waterdown).  

Several businesses like The Flamborough Review, Jitterbug Cafe, Brown Dog Cafe and Voortmans will be offering refreshments and treats.     At 630p, the Choral Walk volunteers will guide participants through the streets of Waterdown where they can enjoy performances by various choirs located along the way or they can sing along.     Choirs will be located at various areas along Main and Mills Streets including at Kitching Steepe Ludwig Funeral Home, Knox Presbyterian Church and the Waterdown Library.

For more information on the Choral and Candle Walk please visit the Waterdown Business Improvement Area's website at  www.waterdownbia.ca/upcoming_events.html

You could possibly also see the CP Holiday Train going through Watedown tomorrow night on its way to a scheduled stop in Hamilton.    Each year the Holiday Train makes it's way along the tracks on a 3 week journey from Quebec to British Columbia for the Canadian Train and from Kanawake Mohawk Territory in Quebec to the North East & Mid West US ending up in Saskatchewan for the US Train.    This history of the train is to encourage folks to come out and donate money or bring food for their local Food Banks.      The Hamilton stop (from the US bound train) will happen around 8pm at Gage Park and Lawrence Road (western approach to Kinnear Yard opposite of Gage Park)   Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Hamilton Food Share.    Entertainers will perform at each stop... this year with the talents of The Claytones and Canadian Country Hall of Fame performer Tracey Brown.     For more information on the Holiday Train please visit the website at www.cpr.ca/en/in-your-community/holiday-train/Pages/Default.aspx

Best Christmas Home Tour

Yes, it is not quite Remembrance Day.... and I am glad that more and more people are passionate about wearing their poppies... supporting Veterans and honouring those who have or are currently serving our country.    I have heard more and more people talk about Remembrance Day this year than I can ever remember, and there is a movement starting about this honoured day being made a Statutory Holiday so we may properly observe.

That being said... Christmas Bazaars and Christmas Home Tours have already begun.    Tonight I had the pleasure of finally going to the Junior League of Burlington Christmas Home Tour.     There are 5 homes on the tour this year... One in Ancaster, one in Waterdown and three in Burlington, one of which includes Historic Ireland House which operates as a year round museum.      Every single home was spectacular.... and the decorators were on hand to talk about where they got items and how they came up with some great innovative ideas.     I could not pick a favourite but the Waterdown home was definately a home that stood out in my mind.    How lovely to be able to see such a majestic older home in the core all decorated for Christmas.    I have long admired the home because each year they have a stunning 3 dimensional star lit up in in one of the big trees right on the corner of the property.   Anytime you drive down Main Street in Waterdown around Christmas you can see this light pretty much from both ends.

To learn more about the 30th Anniversary of the Junior League Home Tour or purchase tickets online, please visit their website... http://www.juniorleague.ca/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=3&tabid=12

If you can't make it out to view the Junior League homes this weekend, another wonderful home tour is happening next weekend at Drummond House.     Drummond House is a transitional home for women & children in Waterdown on the 5th Concession next to Flamborough Baptist Church.     The home only opens it's doors to the public one day a year during their annual Christmas Home Tour and Bake Sale.      Last year, they moved the Bake Sale & Silent Auction next door to the Flamborough Baptist Church because so many people were touring the home they needed more space for the Bake Sale and Silent Auction.     This year, will be a three part tour of the Drummond House activities on Saturday November 17th from 10 am to 4pm.     First, you can view the Home all decorated for Christmas.   2nd you can visit Flamborough Baptist Church where there will be a Bake Sale, Raffle Items (including an iPad), Vendors like Tupperware, Arbonne and Pampered Chef, Christmas Cafe and a Treasure Table of little items offered for Toonie.   Finally, the newly renovated space for Rescued and ReStored up in Freelton located at the Freelton Antique Market.     Each of the 3 locations will be offering up a "freebie".   At the house you can enjoy a free cup of Hot Apple Cider from the Drummond Orchards, at the Bake Sale you will get a free cookie, and at Rescued and ReStored you can get $5 off any purchase over $25.   

To read the lastest about what is going on at Drummond House including the Christmas event you can read their latest newsletter on-line at: http://www.drummondhouse.ca/newsletter/NewsletterFall%20v7.pdf