ESTEVAN — With the first snow in the forecast for the southeast region this week, then St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation is in top gear preparing for its annual kick-off to Christmas.
The 11th Festival of Trees is slated for Nov. 18-19 and will have Christmas activities and entertainment for everyone in the community. The event will be raising money for the needs of the St. Joseph's Hospital.
Preceding the foundation's series of events will be the traditional Estevan Kinettes' Christmas Marketplace, featuring crafts, baking and homemade goods from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the Estevan Exhibition Association and Wylie-Mitchell halls. Proceeds from this event will also be used to support the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation's efforts.
That night, the foundation is inviting the community to put on their festive attire and come out to Affinity Place for the Festival of Trees Gala. Doors will open at 5 p.m. for a jingle and mingle happy hour, sponsored by Murray GM. Six vendors will be set up on the concourse with a variety of specialty Christmas drinks for guests to enjoy while socializing.
The night will continue with a Christmas supper, a live auction and entertainment.
"The supper this year is going to be by EB's. It's going to be a traditional Christmas meal," said St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation executive director Lori Gervais. "We've got The Bromantics coming in for the entertainment, and they're going to be playing some classic rock. We've got a bit of a Memories of Yesteryear theme going on this year. We are sponsored by Kingston Midstream as always, they are fantastic community supporters and once again are going to sponsor the entire event for us.
"We've got eight trees for the auction this year. Our tree committee has done a great job, and we've got quite different shapes and sizes and they're all fantastically beautiful."
The silent auction will provide many opportunities to get some Christmas gifts and other items, all while supporting local health care.
Tables of eight for the gala are still available, and people can contact Gervais at [email protected] or at 306-637-2474 to book their kickoff to Christmas festive night.
Nov. 19 will once again be the Hometown Family Fun Day with Christmas entertainment and activities happening across the city. Admission will be by donation.
"We are looking for the entire community to come out and bring their families and spend some good time," Gervais said.
Activities will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be swimming at the Estevan Leisure Centre, two movies at the Orpheum Theatre, bouncy castles set up at the Estevan Church of God, pictures with Santa at the Estevan Market Mall, and Santa's library and workshop at the leisure centre.
"The Bruins will be there at the leisure centre to participate with kids doing crafts, cookie decorating and face painting. And we're going to have a set-up for families to come in and do family pictures. The more we can offer to get the community involved in something the better," Gervais said.
"The gala is always fun and elegant, and traditionally it's starting to become a kind of a Christmas party for many of the corporate sponsors. And the Hometown Family Fun Day is where we're really trying to get the community out, let everybody know that it is for everybody, it is free, and everybody should get out and take part in as much of it as they can throughout the day," she added.
The foundation is currently working hard to ensure a great event for the community and a great fundraiser for the hospital. Money raised through the festival weekend will be used where it's needed the most at the hospital.
"With the Festival of Trees, we don't designate it specifically to anything other than just the hospital in general. I think in the next few months, there could be some fundraising necessary if the MRI comes to be. But it's always just as needed, really. We're supporting the hospital in an expansion of the facilities or the purchasing of new equipment, whatever is at the top of their wish list right now," Gervais explained.
She also thanked the community for its continued support.
"We're always so humbled. The unwavering support of the community is always amazing. People come out in droves and support us no matter what's going on," Gervais said.
"We are so thankful to the community and to our sponsors. We hope to provide a great event as always, and that everybody has a great time as we kick off the Christmas season."
