Christmas festivities 

Santa Claus arrives in town December 1!

With recent snowfalls, homes are putting up their lights -- and Gatineau’s Santa Claus Parade corporation unveiled the program for Old Aylmer’s Christmas festivities, November 16 at Bistro L’Autre Œil. The event is in its 24th year. 

This year’s Outdoor Christmas Market will grow to 20 booths. For the past four years, the market has been held in Memorial Park, at the corner of Principale and Park Street, facing Gatineau’s Service Centre. The market will open November 30 and December 1-2-7-8-9; more than 90% of the vendors are local. 

Memorial Park’s agenda includes the elves’ visit and Santa’s craft workshop, December 1, from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. Despite his busy schedule, Santa and his elves will greet the people of Aylmer, December 1, 2, 8 and 9, from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm.  Photos with Santa can include pets on Sunday, December 9, from 11 am to 2 pm.  

Throughout December, many Quebec municipalities offer European-style Christmas markets. This, says APICA, is the ideal place to shop for the holidays, eat, and sing and dance with various musical presentations. The “Santa’s Milk” initiative is back this year, thanks to a partnership with La Laiterie de l’Outaouais.  Boxes of milk with Old Aylmer’s Christmas logo are on sale in the region’s grocery stores.

Mylène Deneault, president of the festivities, says she’s always excited with the start of the celebrations; posters for the holiday have begun to appear across Gatineau. 

Old Aylmer’s legendary Santa Claus parade, in existence since 1994, will take place on December 1, 6 pm, up Principale from Front Street.  The parade has attracted over ten thousand spectators most winters.  Old Aylmer’s complete Christmas program is available at www.paradehohoho.com. (Trans.: FR)