Aylmer welcomed Santa with lights and cheer

Christian Rochefort

A crowd of 34,000 cheering revellers welcomed Santa amid the Santa Parade November 30. Old Aylmer was bustling with a crafter’s market at Nesbitt’s Greenhouse, the Grinch visiting at O! Si Natural, the European style Christmas Market around the Old Aylmer Cultural Center and other Christmas events at the Legion, the Aydelu Center, Lord Aylmer School, L’Initial Residence and the Galeries Aylmer. 5eme Baron’s signature event to herald the season with a tree-lighting ceremony was November 29. The event has grown so much, it requires the closing or rue Principale which made space for a stage across the street at St Vincent de Paul, a minim market on site and a carolling station too. December 1 was the launch of the great Christmas food drive, called the Gingnolé. It is ongoing with volunteers going door-to-door as well as an early morning food drive December 5 run by volunteer media workers. The weekend prior and the weekend coming are also filled with events (see the events page at the back of this newspaper).

Organizers of the Santa Parade noted the absence of snow was worrisome, but in the end made for a mild evening. The floats were judged by a panel including city councillor Gilles Chagnon; assistant to André Fortin, the provincial MNA, Genevieve Gagnon-Séguin; Dominik McNicoll, founder of the McNicoll Theatre School and Lily Ryan, publisher of the Aylmer Bulletin family of newspapers. The top three floats, as well as the public’s choice award will be announced at the weekend Christmas market.