To help local families get into the holiday spirit, organizations and businesses are coming together to host the annual Holidaze Community Festival at the Bruce Convention Center next week.
The festival is in its fourth year, and Pam Hale from H&N Hospitality Management says it started as a way to provide free holiday fun while spotlighting the importance of childhood literacy.
Hale says around 350 folks came to the first festival, and they made sure every child left with a book, as well as gifts, food and prizes.
After four years, the festival has greatly grown, and Hale says they are expecting around 1,000 folks to attend this year. At the festival, kiddos can take pictures with Santa Claus, decorate cookies, make holiday crafts, play dancing games and much more.
Katelyn Hodge from Hope’s Healthcare says they will be hosting a glow-in-the-dark room, which will be full of ultraviolet black lights, glowing decorations and music.
Hodge says the festival is not about receiving publicity for her business, but more so about hosting free holiday activities for local children whose families might not be able to afford it elsewhere.
Hale calls it an honor and a privilege to help host the festival, and says she always enjoys seeing the children have fun.
The festival takes over the Bruce Convention Center on Monday, December 8, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
