Page 1                                                                        Valley Voice December 15, 2010

Christmas by the Lake sets record with 1,800 visitors  

By Art Joyce

Silverton’s fourth annual Christmas by the Lake event was a raging success, judging by new attendance records. Organizer Armand Lange estimates 1,800 people enjoyed this year’s festivities, based on the sold-out food and glüwein. Visitors came from as far away as 100 Mile House, Salmon Arm, Sicamous and Revelstoke.

“There were so many faces that we didn’t see before,” says Lange. “The Nelson shuttle bus had 75 people come up on Saturday.”

Local business owners Taeko Miwa of Raven’s Nest and Joan Morgan of Villa Dome Quixote both reported increased clientele as a result of the event. There were 33 vendors on-site with businesses from Argenta, Creston, Ymir, Rossland, Nakusp, Winlaw, Silverton and New Denver.

Santa had the kids lined up for a chance to sit in hislap and make their  Christmas wishes this year atChristmas by the Lake in Silverton. Now in its fourt.

Lange reported another first this year: when he got home Sunday evening, he had already received the first application from a vendor for next year’s Christmas by the Lake. 

“I walked around to talk with the vendors about their experience and they were all very happy, 8 to 9 on a scale of 10,” says Lange.

A major element of the event’s success, Lange believes, is its concept of featuring quality handmade local items. This extends from the crafts to the food sold at the event, which includes bratwurst sausage from Kaslo, locally made potato pancakes, soups from New Denver’s Soup du Jar, and sweets from Silverton’s Cup and Saucer and Bianca Neidhardt of Nakusp.

Another obvious reason for its success is the strong family aspect of Christmas by the Lake. Each year an ice slide is built for the kids and remains a perennial favourite. A special contest challenges kids to find signs with fragments of a Christmas carol and put them in the right order to identify the song. This year Cypress Hunter won the contest by identifying We Three Kings.

Kids are encouraged to be ‘helpers’ for blacksmiths Jamie Barber or Dr. Chuck Burkholder to get a taste for this ancient craft. Friday evening’s opening festivities included a community choir conducted by Matthew Fry, and Sunday the Lucerne school choir performed.

The little ones enjoy visits from the Gingerbread Man and a chance to sit on Santa’s knee. The Grinch put in his usual appearance.

For adults and kids alike the entertainment this year included for the first time music from theNelson Community Band, the Slocan Community Band, as well as returning appearances by Leah Main and Michael Dorsey and jazz musicians Larry and Larry. Other regular features that continue to draw crowds are the ice sculpting by award-winning sculptors Peter Vogelaar and David Ducharme, chainsaw carving by Luc Vreys and Bill Christian, and warm fires to toast marshmallows or chilly toes.Parking was the only problem noted. The Nakusp shuttle bus will likely be discontinued next year; the lack of use by riders makes it prohibitively expensive. For more information or to download a vendor’s application for next year, visit www.christmasbythelake.ca.

Page 3                                     News                                     Valley Voice December 15, 2010

Page 16                     Community                              Valley Voice December 15, 2010