Members of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation (CKHAF) are getting into the holiday spirit by inviting the community to join together for some festive events this month.
The foundation has partnered with the municipality to host a Home for the Holidays Winter Festival. On the terrace of the Civic Centre in Chatham, attendees can expect to see a holiday lights display and campfires for roasting marshmallows. The Festival's kick-off will start at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
LED Rings that will be on display at the festival. (Photo courtesy of the CKHAF).
“We are so excited for our festival to begin,” said Gaye Thompson, board chair of the CKHAF. “We have extended the invitation to everyone in the Chatham-Kent community and are hoping we can all come together to celebrate the holidays this year.”
For those who can't attend the festivities on Saturday, the fun will continue on Sunday afternoon. Between the hours of 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., families can take a horse and wagon ride, while also meeting Santa. Residents are also encouraged to return to the Civic Centre Sunday night, to take some festive photos in front of the holiday lights from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
The Home for the Holidays Winter Festival will finish on December 15, with activities such as cookie decorating and face painting.
“Our community has shown so much support for our foundation and specifically our annual Christmas Wish Tree campaign over the past 29 years, so we wanted to create an opportunity where we could celebrate our milestone 30th anniversary with residents all across Chatham-Kent,” said Mary Lou Crowley, president and CEO of the CKHAF.
The lighting ceremonies for the 30th annual Christmas Wish Tree campaign will be held on December 16 at 6 p.m., outside of the front entrance at the hospital in Wallaceburg. The following night, on December 17, a tree will be lit in Chatham at 6:30 p.m., outside of the emergency entrance.
Residents can make a donation to the foundation and have a light bulb go up on the Christmas tree in memory of a loved one.
Money raised during the long-time campaign will go towards buying three new pediatric cribs and two new patient ventilators at the Women & Children’s and Emergency departments. Details on how to donate can be found by clicking, here.