Organized by Rumours Restaurant’s owner Crystal Dubeau, the event was an opportunity for locals to check out some of the best deals on all sorts of goods while soaking in some of the early-Christmas spirit.

Dubeau explained that the event has grown significantly ever since she and her family have taken over the reins.

Formerly held inside the basement of a local church, Dubeau said that moving the event to the RA hall has provided much more room for a wider variety of vendors to show their products and for more shoppers to roam around.

“Now, we have a bigger space,” she said. “It’s nice and open. We can get wheelchairs in and out. It’s accessible for older people because they don’t have to do stairs. So, it’s perfect for all that. We have lots of parking.”

Boasting around 30 mostly Christmas-themed vendors, some came from as far as Aylmer and Renfrew to sell their stuff. It provided something to see and purchase for everyone who attended, including home-made toques, delicious-looking pastries and house-wear products galore.

A couple of volunteers doled out food from the kitchen inside the hall, including hot dogs, slices of pizza from Rumours Restaurant and bags of Cheetos to keep the attendees from going too hungry.

Others sold 50/50 tickets and raffled off a number of prizes to a few lucky attendees, including a pack of four tickets to Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club in Ottawa at a value of about $80.

The first 100 attendees received a free candle rose as a special gift, Dubeau said.

Dubeau noted that having a solid variety of vendors as well as products available was key to the event’s success.

“We do crafts and vendors,” she said. “It’s not just home-made. It’s not just companies. You have to have a mix of both.”

For Dubeau, the event is a great way for local business people, including herself, to promote their enterprises to the community at large.

“We start our show at 10 [a.m.] and it ends at 3 [p.m.],” she said. “So, people are going to the restaurant. They have breakfast waiting for the show to start. They have lunch and then they can have supper at the restaurant before they head on to the next place. So, it all kind of works together.”

With such a large crowd of people packing the hall throughout the afternoon, Dubeau was quite thrilled with how the event played out.

Shawville

On Saturday, the parking lot at the Shawville RA was packed, as over 100 people from all over the region gathered for the town’s fourth annual Christmas Craft Show.

Organized by Tabetha Rebertz and members of her family, the event was an opportunity for local artisans to promote their products to the community at large, while raising funds for the Shawville District Minor Hockey Association (SDMHA).

Along with all sorts of Christmas-themed crafts and baked goods, the event featured around 30 local vendors selling a wide selection of products. Included were personalized home-décor from Kraften Kustoms, spices and cook wear courtesy of Épicure as well as paintball passes from Marked Ultimate Adventure Family.

SDMHA vice-president Joshua Rebertz, along with two local minor hockey players Bentley Lalonde and Walker Tremblay accepted donations while selling socks and jerseys at their kiosk.

Local musical talent Cathy Scullion kept the Christmas tunes jingling, as she played a number of classic songs on her acoustic guitar.

Keeping the attendee’s appetites satisfied, a couple of volunteers doled out loads of warm food from the kitchen inside the hall, including steaming bowls of chili, buns and sandwiches along with coffee and tea.

Rebertz explained that the event has evolved significantly in popularity over its four years, especially ever since it moved to the RA hall. She noted that the change was the only way to accommodate the high demand of vendors.

“It’s definitely grown for vendors and we have a steady flow of customers every year,” she said.

Having put together vendor shows for many years, Rebertz explained that for the event to be successful, it was important to have a room large enough to feature a wide selection of vendors with different products to sell.

“We understand what it is to be vendors and customers,” she said. “So, I just wanted to have one that you have enough space as a vendor, putting in the little aspects that you like as a vendor, plus trying to get the variety – not too many of the same thing.”

For Rebertz, the event is an ideal way of finally getting the holiday season into gear.

“It’s been a benefit for the vendors because it kicks off their Christmas season for their sales and it allows people locally to get out and start their Christmas shopping,” she said.

When it was all said and done, the event raised $400 for the SDMHA, Rebertz said.

Thorne

The TCRA in Thorne was buzzing with foot traffic on Saturday, as over 100 people convened for its second annual Christmas Craft Show and Bake Sale.

According to one of the association’s directors, Susan Ouimet, the event serves as an opportunity for locals to get some early Christmas shopping done while raising funds for the general upkeep of the hall.

After having so much success during the event’s inaugural edition, Ouimet explained that members of the TCRA felt like bringing it back was a no-brainer.

“It went so well last year,” she said. “It had a great attendance, we had good feedback and it provides something from the community.”

With around 20 local vendors scattered throughout the hall, the event featured a wide variety of products, including artsy crafts, designer clothing and even jars of locally-made honey.

A small group of volunteers doled out a variety of treats, along with coffee and tea from the kitchen inside the hall to keep the hungry shoppers from starving.

While there were other Christmas-themed craft shows happening in the Pontiac on Saturday, Ouimet explained that the TCRA’s event has been great for the community, as it has provided another get together for locals while celebrating the holiday season fast approaching.

“It’s an activity,” she said. “It’s something to start the season off with. Everybody is participating and visiting everyone, going up and down the line from Otter Lake to Ladysmith, to Shawville and it’s something to do on a dreary day.”

Satisfied with the overall turnout, Ouimet said that she and the other TCRA’s directors look forward to bringing the event back for a third year.

“We’ve had some good feedback and more than likely we’ll have it again next year and I’m going to make more pies,” she said. “We’re all sold out.”

On Nov. 2, the TCRA in Thorne was home to a score of craft vendors during its second annual Christmas Craft Show and Bake Sale. Pictured, Bristol-based small-business owner Gema Villavicencio shows off her collection of home-made soaps during the event.

Céline Bourgignon and Nicole Prud’homme have a sweet time at the TCRA’s annual Christmas Craft Show and Bake Sale.

On Nov. 2, the Otter Lake RA hosted its annual Christmas Craft Show and Bake Sale, drawing plenty of people from all over the region to attend. Savannah Lance keeps the Halloween spirit alive at the Otter Lake RA’s Christmas Craft Show and Sale with her polar bear costume.

Rachelle Villeneuve displays her selection of home-made beanies and scarves at the Otter Lake RA on Saturday.

On Nov. 2, the Shawville RA was packed, as nearly 30 vendors from all over the region gathered for the town’s fourth annual Christmas Craft and Bake Sale. Pictured, Shawville District Minor Hockey Association vice-president Joshua Rebertz, along with local prodigies Walker Tremblay and Bentley Lalonde stand together behind their kiosk where they accepted donations.

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