Christmas came early to Otter Lake residents of all ages on Saturday, thanks to two separate events that brought holiday-themed festivities to various corners of the municipality.

On Saturday morning, Parc Leslie hosted an unusual mix of sunscreen and Santa for its annual Christmas in July event. This year’s festivities saw 10 different vehicles, a mix of golf carts, four-wheelers and a car decorated as Christmas floats, tour through the campground before finishing their parade near the campground’s beach.

Following the parade, children gathered not around a tree but under the shade of the pavilion to listen as Mrs. Chris Claus read a story aloud before Santa Normand gifted some beach-themed presents provided by the campground.

“It entertains the children,” said Jo-Anne Marcotte, who has had a trailer at the park for 15 years. She and many others celebrated the holiday by decorating their sites with Christmas-themed paraphernalia. Some were even pumping classic Christmas tunes throughout the day.

Santa Normand and Mrs. Chris Claus, accompanied by Judy the Elf, have been making a twice-annual journey to Leslie Lake for the past five years now, for both the winter and summer Christmas celebrations.

Christine Dumouchel, who is one of the park employees who help organize the event, said her favourite part is seeing the kids’ reactions.

After Santa and Mrs. Claus were escorted to the beach via a decorated golf cart, one of the young campers yelled out “SANTA!”

“And that’s why you do it,” said Shawn Myrick, the general manager of the park, who has been part of the team for two years, before helping set up the gifts to be distributed to the kids.

“I always thought it was really weird to have Christmas at a campsite,” he said, before adding that if there were ever a discussion to host other activities at the campsite, it was clear this one was not up for debate.

“People love it. People call and book for this specific weekend.”

Native Alliance throws holiday bash with turkey and tunes

As Parc Leslie simmered down its unseasonably early holiday festivities, Otter Lake’s Native Alliance was just kicking things off with its own Christmas in July dinner and dance.

Guests packed the Raymond Johnston Community Centre to enjoy a full Christmas spread that included turkey, ham, carrots, potatoes, meat pie, strawberry-rhubarb pie, chocolate cake, and more.

After dinner, local band Dennis Harrington and Heritage Country played classic fiddle and country tunes that filled the dance floor.

By the time the doors opened, 100 tickets had been sold, with more available to walk-ins. The group was hoping for a turnout of around 120, but Lise Dagenais, vice president of the Alliance, ensured they had enough food for 150.

“Because I do not want to run out of food,” she said with a bit of a laugh.

When THE EQUITY caught up with her on Friday before the festivities, she was elbow-deep in prep work, peeling carrots and potatoes alongside her family and other Alliance members, who all pitched in to help prepare the meal.

This was the third annual Christmas in July event that saw couples and friends from across the Pontiac and beyond meet for the unusually timed festive dance.

One couple, from Jeffrey Lake, while thinking about easing onto the dance floor, shared that they heard through a friend about the dance and decided to come out for the first time, and were pleasantly surprised by the number of others who also made the journey Saturday evening.

Dagenais said the group launched the event after the pandemic as a way to bring the community back together.

While turnout has been steady, Dagenais hopes to add more activities next year to help draw an even larger crowd. She said the real challenge, though, is finding enough helping hands.

“Right now, it’s trying to find people to volunteer. That’s our main problem.”

A portion of the evening’s proceeds will support a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society, a cause that has become personal for the group after a member’s family member was recently diagnosed.

Next up for the Alliance is preparing for their Harvest Dinner, set for Oct. 18.