Christmasfest kicks off with Nov. 13 tree lighting

Sporting a new name, new events, and so many family activities it would take a website (christmasfest.ca) to list them all.

The festivities kick off Thursday, Nov. 13 with the Tillsonburg Christmas Family Tree lighting in front of the Tillsonburg (Oxford County) Library at 7 p.m. There's a twist to the Family Christmas Tree this year organizers are selling 'snowflakes' for $1 to help decorate the tree. The white synthetic foam-style flakes will bear the family surname of the donor, and will be in full view during the day. Each night, the Christmas lights will be turned on, and the "big beautiful blue spruce" will look like a traditional holiday tree.

Proceeds from the $1 snowflake sales will go toward promoting Christmasfest... and hydro for lighting the tree.

"We were hoping it would survive the weather," said Patricia Phelps, culture and heritage manager/curator, noting the snowflake design.

Snowflakes will be sold on the November 6 and November 7 at the Tillsonburg Town Centre mall, and at Annandale National Historic Site museum.

The tree is one that was already scheduled for removal, Phelps noted.

"It was going to be cut down regardless," she said, and the Christmasfest committee felt it would make a suitable tree for the town's annual lighting.

"We'd like to thank Oxford County Library and Tillsonburg Hydro Inc for their assistance, and Advanced Automotive (Mike Dean) for transporting the tree for us.

"It's a community project lighting and decorating the tree and we'd like the whole community to celebrate with us on the 13th. We've requested Broadway be closed for the event so we can all celebrate on the street."

With good weather, said Suzanne Fleet, chair of Christmasfest and coordinator of Down Home Country Christmas, the lighting of the town Christmas tree is always well attended.

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Christmasfest kicks off with Nov. 13 tree lighting