Santa Parade and Santa Madness all day Dec 6
The annual Santa Madness and Parade is on Friday, Dec. 6. Parade floats meet by the CPR tracks south of the blue truck on Railway at 5:30 pm. The parade starts at 6 pm. Free hot chocolate, coffee and hot dogs available at People’s Drug Mart.
To register a float or parade entry contact Judy Stuart at (250) 453-9366 or (250) 457-7129 or email judystuart@telus.net or Willow Anderson at Irly/Timbr Mart in Ashcroft.
Christmas Cheer at the Tiki Lounge Open Mic
After the parade, come on down and show your talent at the Tiki Lounge Open Mic night! We’ll be singing and sharing a few Christmas Holiday favourites. Are you a musician, comedian, singer, guitarist, juggler? The Tiki Lounge is back with an ‘Open Mic’ with your host, Nadine Davenport this month on Friday, Dec. 6. For more info and to sign up, call (250) 457-1145 or visit them on Facebook.
Every year, The Riv also hosts Ashcroft’s’ Alumni Homecoming. Join your old high school friends and families on Saturday, Dec. 23 - don’t miss your chance to meet up and catch up on old times during the holidays. The night features Karaoke with DJ Tracey Model starting at 8 pm.
Family Christmas Dance Dec. 13 in Cache Creek
Break out your Christmas dancing shoes for a Family Dance on Dec. 13! Bring the whole family and get ready to rock around the Christmas Tree to many of your holiday faves! Bring your best or worst dance moves and your tackiest Christmas Sweater! The dance is from 7-9:30 pm at the Cache Creek Elementary School. Admission at the door. Tackiest Christmas Sweater Contest! Concession and Door Prizes. Proceeds go to CCEC PAC.
Community Choral Concert and Sing-Along matinee
The Sage Sound Singers Community Choir and the Desert Bells Handbell Choir will be performing a very special Community Christmas Choral Concert and Sing Along. Come and enjoy an array of beautiful harmonies and sounds. Plus, join in on a Community Sing-Along to close out the show.
This year, the performance will be a matinee on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Ashcroft Elementary School. Doors open at 1:30 pm and concert starts at 2 pm. Admission is by donation at the door. Look for posters around town.
The event will also include the duo of Carmen Ranta (sax) and Dimiter Terziev (piano) and a solo set from Dimiter, who just released a solo CD of classical works. Tickets will also be available for his performance in the New Year with a quartet of amazing classical musicians – the Paws and Tales Ensemble (piano, flute, clarinet and opera vocal) in February at St. Albans in Ashcroft.
The Sage Sound Singers is a 21 piece choral group, conducted by Carmen Ranta with accompaniment by pianist Dimiter Terziev. Its Musical Director, Michelle Reid has selected a mixture of popular and seasonal pieces that will surely get you into the holiday spirit. From contemporary folk, traditional and Christmas standards to an old rock roll medley and much, much more.
The Desert Bells Handbell Choir which is also under the direction of Carmen Ranta, will be performing a variety of lovely Christmas Carols.
The Bell Choir has 12 ringers who ring three and a half octaves of bells. They are an inter-generational handbell choir, with members from age 9 to senior, and practice weekly through the fall and spring at Cache Creek Elementary School.
Holiday Train features Matt Dusk & Melanie Doane
The CP Holiday Train will be stopping in Ashcroft on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 9 pm. The train provides a wonderful show of lights and fabulous live entertainment, as well as much needed support to our local Food Bank. The train is scheduled to arrive at 9 pm and Melanie Doane and Matt Dusk will perform.
The CP Holiday Train’s goal is to throw the focus on the important job of local food banks, and to support local leaders in fighting hunger in their neighbourhoods. About 140 cities and towns on both sides of the border will be able to join the Holiday Train spirit and magic, with all food and money raised at each stop staying in that community for local distribution.
Since 1999, the CP Holiday Train program, powered by an army of employee volunteers, has raised $5.6 million and generated close to 2.5 million pounds of food donations for local food shelves.
Each Holiday Train is about 1,000 feet in length, with 14 rail cars decorated with hundreds of thousands of LED Christmas lights. There is also a box car that has been turned into a travelling stage for performers and, of course Santa.
Skate with Santa Dec 16
Come down and enjoy a skate with Santa! Ashcroft Firefighters and Safety Mart Foods presents Skate with Santa on Monday, Dec. 16 in the Ashcroft Drylands Arena from 5-7 pm. It’s Free!! Sparky will be on hand from the Fire Dept. Free hotdogs and drinks!
Cache Creek Winter Lights Singalong
The Cache Creek Beautification Society invites all members of the Cache Creek Community and surrounding areas for the second annual Winter Lights Singalong on Dec. 19 from 7-9 pm at the Cache Creek Community Hall. A great night of free (donations welcome) live Christmas music to get you in the spirit. Everyone welcome, free snacks and hot beverages.
This not to be missed seasonal event for all ages, which will feature live local Christmas music including; The Desert Bells Handbell Choir, the recorder duo of Carmen Ranta & Wendy Coomber, a jazz trio featuring Carmen Ranta (saxophone), Kirk Watson (bass guitar) and Ray Shindell (drums), a medieval choir known as Taize, featuring Karla Cummins, Frank Mireau and others, and a Community Sing Along to end the evening led by Mayor John Ranta.
Plus, the Beautification Society will also be handing out this year’s Winter Lights Appreciation certificates at 7:30 pm. Certificates will be given out to everyone nominated for their residential Christmas lights and/or decorations - nominate your neighbour’s house - nominate your own house! Call in your nominations to Carmen at 457-9119.
Everyone nominated will receive recognition and a certificate at the Winter Lights Singalong. Nominations close Nov. 14, so phone them in, or email them to editorial@accjournal.ca Please provide their names and address. Santa may make an appearance by the end of the show, so bring the children.
Nadine Davenport