The Father Christmas Festival of Mahone Bay

November 28 through December 6, 2009

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE - SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Highlights include:

• Town Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
• Larger than life Father Christmas Figures
• Demonstrations for Decor & Entertaining
• Win your Wish List - $1,700 of your Favourite Gifts
• Antique Market
• Fun filled Activities for Kids
• Yuletide Gourmet Market
• Music, concerts & choirs
• Horse Drawn Transit

Enjoy the warmth and hospitality of our Annual Father Christmas Festival.

On the eve of the Father Christmas Festival, please help us kick of the holiday season with our annual tree lighting ceremony. Bring your sparklers, bring your cheer, bring your voices loud and clear!!

The annual tree lighting will be held on Friday, November 27th, 8:00pm at the Bandstand. All are welcome. Carollers will parade through the streets of Mahone Bay, filling the air with tunes of the holiday season. Everyone will then gather to light the tree and enjoy hot chocolate and treats in support of the Mahone Bay Food Bank.

Father Christmas Figures
Over 65 larger than life Father Christmas figures line the streets of Mahone bay during the festival. Keep an eye out for “tree spirits” a new addition to the Father Christmas community! These wonderful new creations will be adorned on evergreen trees around the town, turning nature into Father Christmas wonders.

Photo courtesy of James Latter Photo.

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Presenting our Holiday Homes
Featuring three distinct homes creatively decorated with fresh, fabulous and fun ideas for Christmas! A talented team of volunteers has collaborated to bring the warmth of Christmas to a traditional, a contemporary and an architecturally inspired home. The Fairmont House (654 Main Street), The Quinlan Penthouse 4 Suite (476 Main Street) and Seaclusion, a classic Nova Scotia `fish-box` redesigned by Brian MacKay-Lyons in 2003 (631 Main Street), have all been graciously chosen for adornment. Tickets are priced at $10 to view all three homes or $5 per home. Tickets are available at the door. Proceeds are in support of the Mahone Bay Food Bank. ( Scroll down for a detailed schedule of dates and times. )

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Yuletide Gourmet Market
Enjoy the treats, eats and specialties of: Bonnie Lee Farm, The Pudding Factory, Colleen’s Sweets, Savory Pies, A la Tarte Tourtieres and Foreign Frommage, Sandra’s Green Kitchen, Gaspereau Winery, Marilee’s Fudge, Julien’s French Bakery, Fleur de Sel and Locally Roasted Coffee. This is what you’ll find: preserves, hors D’oeuvres, English pork pies, sausage rolls, in house smoked salmon, fresh sausage, pate, homemade sweet pies and soups, breads, pastries… and stolen - Oh My! Also visit, Chilly Day Delights: Mimi’s Magic Mulled Cider and belly buster back bacon buddies! Saturdays 10:00am - 4:00pm and Sundays 12:00pm - 4:00pm at the Suttles &Seawinds Barn

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Horse Drawn Transit
Have fun and experience what it was like for our ancestors, as you ride through the streets of Mahone Bay taking in the festively decorated houses, shops and, of course, Father Christmas Figures! With five stops (see map) it’s a great way to get around. $2.00 round trip!  Saturdays 11 - 4 and Sundays 12 - 4.

Photo courtesy of James Latter Photo.

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Children’s Activities
Gingerbread Decorating at the Mahone Bay Centre both Saturdays 12:30pm - 2:00pm. Decorate your own gingerbread house and people. The kiddies will love this! Provided by the Settlers Museum, this free event is held for children ages 2-10 accompanied by an adult. Donations appreciated. Pre-registration recommended. Call Carol 624-0890.

The Triplets debut their new Christmas Show “You Better Watch Out”. This newly formed children’s entertainment trio consists of three well known performers, Mary Knickle, Barbara Morris and Cynthia Myers. This holiday musical features three-part harmony’s and sing-a-long songs for all ages. Catch the Show at the Mahone Bay Centre, both Saturdays at 2 pm.

Christmas Movie for Children on both Saturdays at the Mahone Bay Centre, 3:00pm – 4:30pm. Everyone welcome! Donations to the Settlers Museum appreciated.
“Twas the Night Before Christmas” a reading of a classic for children of all ages. Gather upstairs in the Suttles & Seawinds barn, Saturdays and Sundays 12:00pm - 4:00pm.

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Demonstrations for Decor and Entertainment

To be determined.  Check back in early November.

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Antique Fair
Held only on the FIRST weekend of the festival (Saturday 10am-5pm & Sunday 10am-4pm), this is the place to find unique gifts from yesteryear. With a variety of dealers, you are sure to find all you need in glassware, furniture, primitives and artwork. Located at the Legion Hall on Pond Street behind the Post Office.

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WIN YOUR WISH LIST- While browsing through our lovely shops, take time to fill out a “wish list” available at all participating retailers and enter for a chance to win over $1700.00 worth of wonderful gifts.

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Music, Concerts & Choirs – The streets of Mahone Bay will be filled with the sounds of the season during both weekends of the festival. We have carollers, singing mice, wandering minstrels and even a yuletide brass band!!

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Christmas at the Museum –Drop by the Settlers Museum, 578 Main Street (Saturdays 10am - 5pm and Sundays 1pm - 5pm) to check out their new exhibit “The Gift Giver: Saint Nicholas to Santa” and write your letter to Santa on special vintage letterhead.

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Christmas Market Places – Find everything you need in live greenery for the holidays at: the Lions Club Market (#6) across from the Town Monument, Tom Ernst Forest Products (#10) in Clearland and Svenja Dee’s Extravaganza of Garlands and Greens (#15) at the Eclectic Garage.
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“Breakfast with the Blues” - Saturday, December 6 at 11 am at Cecilia’s Retreat (#11), 1199 Oakland Rd. Four stellar guitar players - Brian Doyle, Dave MacIsaac, Scott Macmillan, and Seph Peters - will entertain with a selection of Celtic tunes. A delicious brunch with a ‘blueberry’ theme complements the event and follows the performance. Tickets are $20. Reservations: 624-0506 or e-mail barbara.butler@ns.sympatico.ca

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Ham and Bean Lunch – All proceeds from the lunch go to First Steps, a home based program for pre-school children with special needs. Saturday December 6th, 11:00am – 2:00pm at St. James’ Anglican Church Parish Hall. Adult $9.00/plate, kids 5-12yrs $4.50/plate and free for any child less than 5yrs old. For Tickets call 531-3500 or email: firststeps@eastlink.ca

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“Adorn Your Door” - Adorn your entrance with beautiful, festive, striking, traditional or modern decorations . Use your imagination to help make our town sparkle! Business and residential ‘door prizes’ will be awarded.

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We really appreciate and thank our sponsors:

Primary Sponsors: Bank of Montreal and Amos Pewter,

Contributors: The Innlet Café, Lighthouse Publishing, The Teazer, Tim Hortons, Northern Sun, Kinburn Pharmasave, Bluestone Magik, Primrose Lane Gifts, Mug & Anchor Pub, For the Birds Nature Shop, Edgewater B&B, Simple Things Booksellers & Gifts, Mahone Bay Quilt Shop, Nova Scotia Building Supplies, Suttles & Seawinds and the Eclectic Garage,

And Friends of the Festival: Inside Out Cleaning Services, Breeze Collections, Abe’s Furniture, Bayside Pizza, The Cheese Cake Gallery, Have a Yarn, Biscuit Eater Café, Old Mader’s Wharf Emporium, Tamara Scissorhand Beauty Salon, Birdsall-Worthington Pottery, Irving, And Everything Nice Fashions, The Dog Shop, Mariner Real Estate Ltd., Candy Cravings, Mom’s Buy and Sell, La Belle Boutique and Encompassing Designs.