Christmas in Kamloops Part One - 2022

SANTA CLAUS ARRIVES DOWNTOWN

— Nov 27 —

The annual Santa Claus Parade will return to downtown Kamloops at the end of November. The Jolly Old Elf will be woken from his slumber at around 4:10 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27, before the parade begins at 4:30 p.m.

The downtown parade route follows Second Avenue from St. Paul Street to Victoria Street and then along Victoria Street, ending at Sixth Avenue.

Participants and parade watchers alike are encouraged to dress up in their pyjamas, following this year’s pyjama party theme.

The 42nd annual parade is being presented by the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association (also known as Downtown Kamloops) and Thompson Rivers University.

“Kamloops loves this event and we want to make sure it’s a cherished time for families and all Kamloopsians,”

said Downtown Kamloops executive director Howie Reimer.

“The Pyjama Party theme will add another fun element and the lights at dusk make the event such a spectacle. Thanks so much to TRU. This event couldn’t happen without their generous community support.”

Thompson Rivers University is thrilled to once again be the title sponsor for the event.

“The holiday season is so important to so many people. It’s a chance for all of us to get together with family and friends and with each other as community neighbours. Events like the Santa Parade bring people together in celebration,” said Brian Daly, TRU’s vicepresident of university relations. “All of us at TRU are excited to be part of this event and we encourage everyone in Kamloops to take part. Truly, there is something here for everyone.”

photo: Doug Sage

WELCOME WINTER IN DOWNTOWN KAMLOOPS

The Welcome Winter Block Party is returning to downtown Kamloops.

The event is organized by the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association (also known as Downtown Kamloops) and presented by Dearborn Ford.

The Welcome Winter Block Party will take place on Saturday, Dec. 10, from noon to 7 p.m. in the 300-block of Victoria Street. Shopping, good food, drinks, family fun, giveaways and more will be featured.

“We’ve been apart from neighbours and friends for too long,” KCBIA executive director Howie Reimer said. “This is a great way to reconnect with community and get caught up in the holiday spirit downtown. So, bundle up and join us for a bite and some holiday cheer before you

head to the Blazers’ Teddy Bear Toss.”

The popular Teddy Bear Toss will be held later on Dec. 10 when the Kamloops Blazers host the Victoria Royals, with faceoff set for 7 p.m.

The KCBIA has signed a three-year partnership with Dearborn Ford to bring the Welcome Winter Block Party back to life.

“Dearborn is very excited to help bring back the Welcome Winter Block Party to Kamloops this year and years to come,” Dearborn Ford community manager Maddie Bedard said. “We are hoping to bring families and our community together this holiday season.”

More information on vendors and other aspects of the event will be released prior to Dec. 10.

2022 –

CRAFT FAIR LIST

NOVEMBER 19

Rayleigh Elementary Market

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rayleigh Elementary, 306 Puett Ranch Rd.

Winter Bazaar 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sahali Mall, 945 Columbia St. W

Winter Wonderland Craft Fair 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Marion Schilling Elementary, 2200 Park Dr.

NOVEMBER 20

Bert Edwards Christmas Craft Sale

10 .m. to 3 p.m.

Bert Edwards Science & Tech, 711 Windsor Ave.

NOVEMBER 26

Kay Bingham Christmas Craft Fair

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kay Bingham Elementary, 950 Southill St.

Christmas Market

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sorrento Memorial Hall, 1150 Passchendaele Rd., Sorrento

Kamloops Arts & Crafts Club Xmas Sale

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Heritage House, 100 Lorne St.

NOVEMBER 27

BC SPCA Kamloops and District Christmas Craft Fair 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thompson Rivers University, 805 TRU Way

Pinantan Craft Fair & Bake Sale 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 2540 Hines Rd., Pinantan

DECEMBER 2-3

Barriere Christmas Artisan Market 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. North Thompson Agriplex, 4856 Dunn Lake Rd., Barriere

DECEMBER 3

Christmas Market

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Dunes At Kamloops, 652 Dunes Dr.

Heffley Creek Christmas Craft Fair 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Heffley Creek Hall, 6995 Old Highway 5

Cache Creek Christmas Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cache Creek Community Hall, 1270 Stage Rd., Cache Creek

Barnhartvale Christmas Craft Fair

9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. cash only Barnhartvale Hall, 7390 Barnhartvale Rd., Christmas Bazaar 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sahali Mall, 945 Columbia St. W

Kamloops United Church Craft Market 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kamloops United Church, 421 St. Paul St.

DECEMBER 4

Christmas Market

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Dunes At Kamloops, 652 Dunes Dr.

DECEMBER 10

Christmas Bazaar

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sahali Mall, 945 Columbia St. W2022

DECEMBER 10-11

Artisan Holiday Market

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monte Creek Winery, 2420 Miner’s Bluff Rd., Monte Creek

Christmas Craft Fair & Artisan Market 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sun Peaks Centre, 3200 Village Way, Sun Peaks

photo: Allen Douglas

WILDLIGHTS CELEBRATING ANNIVERSARY 25th

The 25th edition of Wildlights will again shine on the BC Wildlife Park in east Kamloops.

The popular event that features nearly one-million lights and assorted entertainment will run from Dec. 10 through Jan. 2, with Christmas Day being the only day the park will be closed.

“This will be a great Wildlights, back to where we were before COVID-19,” BC Wildlife Park executive director and general manager Glenn Grant said, noting between 22,000 and 25,000 people are expected to visit the park.

Wildlights will run each day from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., again with title sponsor MJB Lawyers helping the cause.

New this year will be Santa’s Village at the North Pole, a feature on the park’s Great Lawn that will include meeting the Jolly Old elf, fantastic photo opportunities and a chance to warm up next to a couple of propane fire pits. There will also be eight more fire pits farther back in the park, near the log cabin.

Old favourites of Wildlights will also be featured, including the Canadian Tire

Kamloops Holiday Gazebo, endless light displays, the 250-foot Tunnel of Lights, Uncle Chris the Clown and a 20-foot-tall outdoor light tree.

Grant said one of those old favourites will include something new as the Tunnel of Lights will be constructed with a greenhouse frame, rather than with PVC piping as in the past.

In addition, the popular Wildlife Express miniature train will be operating nightly from 5 p.m., with the last run at about 8:30 p.m. Train tickets are $1 each (cash only) and can be purchased at the train station.

For Wildlights ticket information, go online to bcwildlife.org. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door. The park is at 9077 Dallas Dr. Money raised via Wildlights is used to support the BC Wildlife Park through the winter, with funds generated covering the costs of food and care for the nearly 200 permanent resident animals, the Fawcett Family Wildlife Health Centre patients and the burrowing owls in the famous breeding program.

The BC Wildlife Park is a non-profit organization and registered charity founded in 1965.

The park is home to nearly 200 animals and 65 different species that are native to British Columbia, including cougars, bears, wolves, reptiles, birds of prey and the only Kermode bear in human care in the world.

Many of the animals at the park have been rescued or were orphaned and are unable to survive on their own in the wild.

The BC Wildlife Park accredited by Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums.

In partnership with the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society, the BC Wildlife Park has been working toward saving the burrowing owls from extirpation since 1992. Park staff are the largest and most successful breeders in the world.

The BC Wildlife Park also operates the Fawcett Family Wildlife Health Centre, which is dedicated to the rehabilitation of orphaned and injured wildlife. As the only full-service wildlife rehabilitation centre in the Southern Interior, the health centre accepts more than 500 animals annually from across the province.

Prepare cranberries as directed on the package and set aside. Peel and core the apples, enough to fill your pie shell in a thick layer. Add apple pie spice, orange zest, cinnamon and ½ cup of the cranberry mix to the apples. Stir on luke-warm stove until well mixed. Add 1 cup chopped pecans to the apple mix. Pour the cranberry/apple pie mix into pie shell so it is heaping in the center. Then take second pie shell and place on top. Press the edges together to secure, and take a fork to poke three spots in top of crust. Bake at 400 F for 35-40 min. or until crust is golden. Serve warm with whip cream or ice cream.

submitted

Ann Stoughton

1 package (2 layer size) white cake mix 2 packages (3 ounce size) Jello -1 Raspberry and 1 Lime 2 envelopes of Dream Whip

Prepare cake mix as directed on package. Put in 2 greased and floured 9 inch layer cake pans, and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pans for 15 minutes. Poke each cake with a fork at 1/2 inch intervals. (do not remove from pans). Dissolve each package of jello powder separately in 1 cup boiling water. Pour raspberry jelly over one layer, and lime jello over the other. Chill 4 hours. Prepare Dream Whip as directed. Unmould one layer onto a serving plate, and top with 1 cup of the dessert topping. Unmould second layer onto the first. Frost top and sides with the remaining dessert topping. Chill.

Recipe submitted by Ann Stoughton

Carrot Cake Cookies

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup butter

350º F 12-14 m

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 cup grated carrots

1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1/2 cup raisins

Grease cookie sheets. Combine flower, cinnamon, baking soda, salt in a bowl. Beat brown sugar and butter, till creamy then add egg and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture. Stir in carrots, walnuts and raisins. Drop tablespoon size dough onto cookie pan. Bake 12 -14 minutes or until lightly brown.

Recipe submitted by Virginia Meltz

Christmas Recipes DESSERTS

Emsland Insurance Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 cup margarine

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

5 ml salt

5 ml baking soda

5 ml vanilla 2 cups flour

1 heaping cup of chocolate chips

375º F 10-11 m

Mix margarine, white sugar, brown sugar and eggs. Then add salt, baking soda and vanilla and stir. Finally, add the flour and chocolate chips until all is moist. Batch makes 15 cookies. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes. Do not overcook!

From our family to yours, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Merry Christmas from all of us at Emsland Insurance.

Recipe submitted by Emsland Insurance

Magic Santa Cookie Bar

1 can EagleBrand milk

2 cups graham wafer crumbs

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup flaked coconut

1 cup jet-puffed mini – marshmallows

½ cup chopped pecans

¾ cup melted butter

¾ cup while or semi-sweet chocolate chips

350º F 25 to 30 m

Makes 24 bars. Combine graham crumbs with butter. Press evenly onto parchment paper-lined 13” x 9” baking pan. Pour 2/3 can of Eaglebrand over crumbs. Sprinkle with pecans, chocolate chips, cranberries, coconut, and marshmallows. Press down firmly. Pour remaining Eaglebrand overtop. Bake at 350 F for 25 to 30 min or until lightly browned. (325 F for glass dish). Cool thoroughly and cut into bars.

Recipe submitted by Ann Stoughton

Chipits Cherry Jewel Bars

1 egg

1 ½ cup salted mixed nuts

1 ½ cup halved candied cherries

1 ¼ cup flour

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

¾ cup softened margarine

2/3 cup brown sugar

½ tsp salt

350º F 35 m

Combine flour with 1/3 cup brown sugar. Cut in margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press mixture evenly and firmly into bottom on an ungreased 9” x 13” pan. Bake at 350 F for 15 min. Meanwhile, beat egg slightly in a large bowl. Stir in remaining 1/3 cup of brown sugar and salt. Add nuts, cherries, and chocolate chips. Toss mixture lightly to coat. Spoon fruit mixture evenly over the baked layer. Press firmly to adhere layers. Bake for an additional 20 min. Cool, then cut into 1 1/2” x 2” squares.

Recipe submitted by Ann Stoughton

Chipits Noel Crisps

1 egg

1 cup flour

1 cup chocolate chips

½ cup shortening

¾ cup chopped marachino cherries (well-drained) or chopped glace cherries

¾ cup white sugar

½ tsp almond extract

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

¾ cup coconut

350º F 12 to 15 m

Makes 3 dozen cookies. Cream shortening with sugar. Beat in egg and almond extract. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into creamed mixture. Mix in chocolate chips, coconut, and cherries. Drop from a teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 F for 12 to 15 min.

Recipe submitted by Ann Stoughton

GOAL: RIH

Raise $1 million dollars to expand the current ICCHA-WISH Coronary Care Unit (CCU) at Royal Inland Hospital and establish a state-of-the-art Catheterization Lab in Kamloops so that our cardiac patients can be treated locally for arterial blockages instead of the traumatic journey to Kelowna by ambulance or flight to the Lower Mainland.

GOAL: TRU

JOIN THE AMAZING RACE CHALLENGE to leave a LEGACY behind

For every thousand dollars donated, you will be entitled to a COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TICKET to the Red Carpet GALA on April 28 and qualify to JOIN the ICCHA-WISH WALL of FAME. Together, we can improve the ICCHA WISH Cardiac Care unit at RIH & empower financially burdened local nursing students at TRU. For limited tickets & details, visit: iwishfund.com

Raise $1 million dollars to establish the ICCHA-WISH Community Education Centre at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). Local students who cannot afford the education to become a nurse will be awarded a full 4 year scholarship to become a nurse and serve our community. For information or to donate, visit: iwishfund.com or email: iwishfund@gmail.com