High River is really kicking off Holiday Festivities this weekend.

Not only are the Porch Parades lighting up local neighborhoods Friday through Sunday, but the Town is also hosting three different markets.

Inclusion Foothills's market is Friday, Dec 03-04 at the Memorial Centre, the good old High River Agricultural Society Christmas Market will be at the rodeo grounds again, and the High River United Church is hosting their Gifts of Hope Market as well.

Orvella Small with Inclusion Foothills says after markets were shut down last year, it's important to support the small businesses participating this year.

"That's one of the reasons we felt like we needed to host this market, despite losing the parade again this year. We knew that everyone really needed this opportunity to sell their wares especially when we were totally canceled last year. We want to keep this going, and we want to make sure that the vendors we have always served over the past many years, got their chance to sell again in High River."

Not only will Inclusion's Foothill's Winter Market aid local businesses, but profits from table sales and donations at the door will be put back into local programming says Small.

"The sale of the tables, minus expenses of course, but anything that comes out as profit goes immediately into the programs that we offer at Inclusion Foothills under the umbrella of Family Support because that's the one service in our agency that is no longer funded by neither federal nor provincial government grants so we apply for local grants and fundraise to support those programs. She adds "Those programs look like our one-on-one family support, Sip Shops, It includes junior giants leadership and tutor programs, and it funds the Connexions registry those all fall under that family services office."

There will be a donation box for folks to make donations to Inclusion Foothills and Small says those who do will get their name entered into a draw for a prize basket.

That market will be held at the Highwood Centre in High River Friday, Dec 3 from 12:00-9:00 p.m. and Saturday, Dec 4 from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Memorial Centre is a town-owned property, so in order to attend the market, visitors will need to provide QR Code proof of ID, or a negative COVID test.

The High River Ag Society is also hosting their annual Cowboy Christmas Market at the indoor riding arena on the High River Rodeo Grounds.

Organizer Corine Vanstone says that it all starts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 4.

"Our facility does not follow the R.E.P Program and we're also an Alberta approved Market, so we have been deemed an essential service so the only restrictions that we'll have to follow here are attendees must wear masks. We'll have a team on hand to clean high traffic areas and bathrooms, and all of the vendors will have access to sanitizers at their table."

Vanstone says because their market is in such a big location social distancing will be easy to maintain, as long as attendees keep it top of mind.

99.7 Sun Country and AM 1140 will have their Santa's Cruz on hand accepting unwrapped toy donations for the Magic of Christmas as well as Market Organizers are accepting food bank donations.

And the High River United Church is hosting their Gift of Hope Market as well but this year the Market willrun during the daytime Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 4:00 pm (closed over the lunch hour) 

 

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