Christmas in Merrickville draws a crowd; shop local promotion runs until Dec. 19
A small eastern Ontario village celebrated the Christmas season on Saturday, with people excited to get out, support local and get a jump on some Christmas shopping.
"It's bigger than last year, not as big as in previous years, but working our way up there again," said Yves Grandmaitre with the Merrickville-Wolford Chamber of Commerce.
"Christmas in Merrickville is always a big day, always exciting, stores are decked out, the village is decked out with a Victorian theme this year," Grandmaitre said.
While Main Street was open to vehicle traffic unlike previous years, there was still lots to see and do.
"Unfortunately, we weren't able to open the road this year our concerns still around COVID," Grandmaitre said. "We wanted to make sure (to) reduce the crowds, the big crowds and reduce the concerns around the kids as well."
"We have carollers going around, Santa Claus will be here after lunch, the Lions Club are dishing out cider and hot chocolate," he added.
Women pose for pictures during Christmas in Merrickville on Saturday. (Nate Vandermeer/CTV News Ottawa)
Pushing local, a key initiative this winter, and the chamber is running a promotion over the next few weeks where someone could win a $1,300 shopping spree on Dec. 19.
"You spend $10 at any participating store, you get a ballot for a chance to win," Grandmaitre said. "You spend $10 at all the participating stores you can get 20 ballots in one day."
"It's been going very good, we've been collecting all kinds of ballots and people are really excited about it the stores are excited and it's a great way to encourage shop local," he added.
Stores like Wick Witch Apothecary, specializing in homemade candles and bath and body products.
Lianne Kulp-Aultman says it's been a busy morning.
"It's pretty hard not finding something for that special someone on your list," she said. "We have something for everyone."
"We know most of the residents now because our own tiny little village has been so supportive of the products we hand make in our own town," Kulp-Aultman added.
"We're really proud to be part of such a great artisan community where a lot of really amazing brands are crafted right here within walking distance of the shops." she said.
The Parsons family from Ottawa enjoys a day of shopping during Christmas in Merrickville on Saturday. (Nate Vandermeer/CTV News Ottawa)
Along the streets, shoppers came from all around to get a jump on Christmas shopping.
"We were just looking around, we heard there was a Christmas market and we came from Ottawa and it's awesome," said the Parsons family.
A group of women from Brockville enjoyed a girls' day out.
"It's amazing, festive, it's nice," said one woman. "It's really festive. I'm telling people to come. It's really fun."
"We just started (Christmas shopping) yesterday," said Elie from Smiths Falls. "We found a lot of great stuff in wick witch and we just went down to the vinyl shop. It was awesome too."
"That's one thing which is nice for the shop local program, it's really to encourage people from Brockville to Kingston to Prescott to Ottawa to come down and take advantage of our stores and the variety that's available within just a few blocks," said Grandmaitre.
It seemed the only thing missing was a little snow to set the scene.
But Mother Nature took the hint and began transforming the village into a winter wonderland around 12 p.m.
"It's just a nice holiday feel, the spirit of the season, Merrickville's really captured it today," said Kulp-Aultman.
"There's all kinds of opportunity for some great pictures and some great shopping," said Grandmaitre.
A large Christmas tree was lit up at 5 p.m. to celebrate, with stores staying open until 7 p.m.
For more information on the shop local promotion, visit the Merrickville-Wolford Chamber of Commerce website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.