stands to watch local figure skating prodigies show off their latest choreographies during the Shawville Figure Skating Club’s annual Christmas Show and Bake Sale.

Throughout the event, attendees cheered from the stands, as scores of skaters hit the ice in nearly 20 different choreographies set to a number of Christmas tunes.

The show included several group performances, as well as a number of trios, to songs like “Frosty the Snowman”, “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Run, Run Rudolph”.

To cap things off in style, all skaters hit the ice to the sounds of “Do They Know It’s Christmas” for an epic finale.

Inside the lobby, Heidi Ardern from Hardy Plants sold colourful flower bouquets for the young skaters to receive at the end of their performances like in the Olympic Games.

Plus, a couple of volunteers sold a wide assortment of home-made baked goods to raise funds for the figure skating club.

According to Serena Larivière, who’s in charge of the figure skating club’s fundraising initiatives, the event is one of the club’s biggest annual fundraisers and an opportunity for the club’s skaters to show off the benefits of their hard work over the course of the first half of the season.

She explained that many of the participants have practiced up to three times per week leading up to the event.

“They work really hard,” she said. “They’ve put in a lot of hours and it’s really fun to have families come out to watch and see how much they’ve changed from the previous year; how much they’ve improved on what they’re working on.”

With many of the skaters, depending on their level, creating their own choreographies that coaches helped polish up before the big holiday showcase, Larivière believed the experience was very beneficial for the participants.

“It’s really great,” she said. “It’s a lot of teamwork, the kids choose their costumes. It’s a good chance for them to work together and it’s a lot of fun.”

For Larivière, who’s attended the event for the last 13 years, the showcase is a great reminder of just how impactful the community is in supporting the figure skating club’s initiatives.

“They always come out and support by donating baked goods, buying baked goods, making baked goods,” she said. “Even just by being in the crowd, it’s great support for the kids.”

With people packing both sides of the bleachers and the lobby bustling with traffic as well, Larivière was thrilled with the number of people who came out and how the event proceeded.

“Both sides are full, the lobby’s full,” she said. “People are happy, they’re smiling. Everybody’s very happy with the turnout.”

For Larivière, the best part about attending the event every year, besides watching her daughter and her friends perform, is seeing how close the participants are with one another and how supportive they are of their peers.

“We do two shows per year and they’re probably our favourite parts of the year,” she said. “It’s great to see them on the ice, but one of our favourite things is the camaraderie in dressing rooms, helping each other and cheering each other on. It’s such a little family.”

Julia Lemay glides on one leg to the sound of “Make it to Christmas”.

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