Santa Parade and Santa Madness
The annual Santa Madness and Parade is on Friday, Dec. 5. Parade floats and other entries meet by the CPR tracks south of the blue truck on Railway at 5:30 pm.
The parade starts at 6 pm. To register a float or parade entry contact Judy Stuart at (250) 453-9366 or (250) 457-7129 or email judystuart@telus.net .
Holiday Train features Jim Cuddy & Tracey Brown Dec. 16
The CP Holiday Train will be stopping in Ashcroft (Railway Ave.) on Tuesday, Dec. 16. The Train provides a wonderful show of lights and fabulous live entertainment and brings much needed support to our local Food Bank. The Train is scheduled to arrive at 8:45pm with performers Jim Cuddy from ‘Blue Rodeo’ and Tracey Brown. Mark your calendars now to attend this annual event.
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 communities. All food and money raised at each stop stays in that community for local distribution, so bring your donations of food or money. South Cariboo Elizabeth Fry Society staff and volunteers will be there to accept your gift.
The Train arrives in Kamloops at 4:45 pm on the same day on the north side of Interior Savings on Lorne St. The performance is from 5:15-6:10pm, after which the Train departs for Savona. The performance there takes place from 7:20-7:55 pm at the Savona access road and Park Lane. After that it makes its way to Ashcroft, arriving at 8:45 pm, with a performance starting at 9pm and going until 9:45 pm. The following day, the Train arrives in Lytton at 12:45 pm on Station Rd. The performance is from 1-1:35 pm.
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.
Relax to Simple Pleasures at UniTea on Dec. 16
Listen to the sweet two-part harmony of Christmas carols played on wooden recorders in the warm and cozy setting of UniTea on Dec. 16 while you wait for the Holiday Train to arrive in Ashcroft. Ordinarily a Games Night at the tea room, Simple Pleasures will provide some seasonal background music from 7:30-8:30 pm for those who want to play board games, just sit with a cup of tea, or listen to their favourite old carols.
A member of the flute family, the recorder was used for music in western Europe as early back as the 1300s, achieving great popularity in the 16th and 17th centuries. Composers like which Bach, Handel, Telemann, Vivaldi and Mozart wrote much fine music for the recorder.
Carmen Ranta and Wendy Coomber have been using their recorders to make music for local residents for the past three years in Cache Creek and Ashcroft. Carmen primarily plays the tenor recorder, while Wendy plays the soprano recorder. Both have formal music training and have come to realize that Christmas music sounds divine when played on these fine old folk instruments.
Drop into UniTea and get into the Christmas mood before the Holiday Train arrives at 8:45 pm in the CP yard next to Fields department store. The local food bank will be there collecting donations of food or cash while the Train is in town, so don’t forget and please be generous.
UniTea will have lots of great organic tea and coffee on the brew. Plus the already infamous UniTea ‘Grilled Cheese’ offerings and yummy tea infused cookies made by the Ashcroft Bakery. For more info (250) 453 9345.
Desert Bells Hand bells featured at Winter Lights Appreciation
The Cache Creek Beautification Society is hosting its third annual Winter Lights Appreciation and Christmas Singalong at the Cache Creek Community Hall on Thursday, Dec. 18 from 7-9 pm.
This free event is a great opportunity to socialize with friends and neighbours just before Christmas. It combines the public recognition of the people who decorate their homes with festive lights for the pleasure of everyone, with the beautiful Christmas music produced by local groups like the Desert Bells Hand Bell Choir and Simple Pleasures, a recorder duo from Cache Creek.
This year the event is looking for local musicians who would like to perform a Christmas tune or two for the audience. If you can sing or play an instrument, they’d like to hear from you. Please call Carmen at 250-457-1250 by Dec. 8 if you’re interested.
The evening finishes off with a community Christmas singalong (music sheets are provided). Everyone is invited. Please bring a donation for the hand bell choir.
Sage Sound Singers concert on Dec. 20
The Sage Sound Singers Choir is performing their annual Christmas Concert on Dec. 20 at 7:30 pm at the Crossroads Pentecostal Church on Stage Rd. in Cache Creek. The choir is under the direction of Carmen Ranta and will be joined by the Desert Bells Hand Bell Choir and Simple Pleasures with a sweet selection of Christmas carols played on wooden recorders.
The Sage Sound Singers’ 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. 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.
Don’t miss this annual Christmas show that has become a traditional event in the local area. Admission is by donation at the door.
Candy Cane Family Dance Dec. 20
It’s a Christmas Family Dance not to miss on Dec. 20 at the Ashcroft Secondary School gym starting at 6:30pm. Admission is free and offers great music, food concession, photo opportunity and all sorts of fun! Come dressed in your Christmas best!!!!
Brought to you by the Rotary Club of Ashcroft/Cache Creek in partnership with Interior Savings Credit Union Ashcroft!
This is a Free event for all families! Come dance your heart out!
Music Jam Night
Music Jam Night at UniTea Tea Room on Railway St. every Thursday from 6:30-9:30pm will be a fun all inclusive night of song sharing. Bring your guitars, drums, shakers and song books. We’ll have lots of great organic tea and coffee on the brew.
Plus the already infamous UniTea ‘Grilled Cheese’ offerings and yummy tea infused cookies made by the Ashcroft Bakery. For more info (250) 453 9345.
Nadine Davenport