Holiday cheer on display
Charlottetown's annual Christmas Festival begins today and runs to Dec. 13
The 2020 Charlottetown Christmas Festival starts today with a transformation of the Confederation Centre Plaza and Victoria Row into Christmas Town.
Presented by Discover Charlottetown, Who ville inspired holiday décor and over 50 unique, handmade characters will greet locals and visitors until Dec. 13.
Two key artists, Julie Doneff and Becca Griffin, were hired to create the cast of characters, with added creative support from Becka Viau. The artists also collaborated with Karyn MacPhee, the Confederation Centre’s Wardrobe Mistress, who donated various costumes to add to the character’s authenticity.
“The goal is to have our version of Whoville add an extra element of whimsy to the holiday buzz in downtown Charlottetown, which we’re affectionately calling Christmas Town,” said Heidi Zinn, Discover Charlottetown’s executive director.
“It was really important to us that we have a form of passive entertainment that’s fun and playful during a year that’s been challenging for so many. We’re excited to bring a lightness and something new to help draw Atlantic Canadians to support our local economy in Charlottetown.”
The 2020 Charlottetown Christmas Festival will also feature Discover Charlottetown’s pillar event, the Victorian Christmas Market presented by the Confederation Court Mall, Nov. 27-29.
The open-air market is a holiday tradition and draws artisans from across the Island to showcase their creations in a safe and friendly manner. Added health and safety precautions will be in place, such as having two venues – inside at the Confederation Court Mall and outside on Queen street – with added space between each booth and strict guidelines for participants, volunteers and attendees.
“We really want to get the message out there that this festival will be safe for all participants to enjoy, but we all must do our part. Masks will be mandatory, and we’ll have various sanitizing stations, directional signage, and volunteers on hand to monitor physical distancing,” says Zinn.
“We’re also advising anyone who is experiencing Covid-19 symptoms to stay home.”
Festival-goers can expect other events throughout the three-week Christmas festival, like free wine tastings at restaurants, historic walking tours, cooking workshops, horse and wagon rides, stiltwalkers, Spirits of the Season card readings, a Friday Night Retail Shopping Trail, live music and children’s entertainment.
For more information, visit www.discovercharlottetown.com/christmas-festival.