Taber Winter Festival this Friday

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Vauxhall Advance

By Heather Cameron
Vauxhall Advance
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The 2024 Taber Winter Festival will take place on November 15.

“Winter Festival is a free fun family event which hopes to promote local shopping as well as a Spirit of Community,” said Bruce Warkentin, chair of the Winter Festival committee.

According to the Taber and District of Chamber of Commerce website, the festival will begin at 4 p.m. with the Taber Public Library Jingle Sale, which will be at the Taber Community Centre Auditorium until 9 p.m. and will be followed by the Tree Lighting at 6:15 p.m. on 47 Avenue in front of Western Financial and free skating from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the Small Ice, and free swimming from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Taber AquaFun Centre. From 5 to 7:30 p.m., the website says, there will also be Letters to Santa in front of Johnson’s Drug Store, coffee will be provided by McDonald’s available at 5300 47 Avenue from 5 to 8 p.m., free kids crafts will be available while supplies last from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Taber Legion, hay rides and Santa pictures will be available at 513 47 Avenue from 6 to 8 p.m., there will be a free movie called ‘The Star’ shown at Parallel Church, located at 5120 47 Avenue, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.; and there will be a family dance at the Taber Legion from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

In addition to these events, Warkentin says, the Taber and District Chamber of Commerce is also doing a bingo competition.

“If people visit at least five of the events and get their card stamped and then bring it to the Legion they’ll get $5 worth of free Chamber bucks,” said Warkentin.

Warkentin says that the Winter Festival originally started as Midnight Madness with stores staying open until midnight and offering sales for shoppers. 

“A few years ago, when the amount of businesses available to participate was dwindling, we transitioned it to a ‘festival’ with the added fun free components such as skating, swimming, free crafts, Santa visits and hay rides,” said Warkentin. “The festival exists to promote community spirit and give the local businesses an early start to holiday shopping season. We hope that people appreciate the free family fun events and the opportunity to shop local and save money while doing so.”

Warkentin says the Taber Chamber of Commerce is the main organizer of the Taber Winter Festival along with the Town of Taber and Taber Fire Department, both of which facilitate the actual event with the tree lighting, street closures, fire pits, and the planning leading up to the event.

“I think it’s a great way to get people feeling the spirit of the season locally,” said Warkentin. “We would love everyone to come out and support our wonderful sponsors and participating businesses and shop local.”