Remember when holiday shopping brought a smile to your face and a bounce to your step? If so, check out Sidney as your “go-to” holiday hub. The annual Sidney merchants’ Open House will be held Friday, December 4th from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be FREE horse-drawn carriage rides (4 to 8 p.m.), traditional storybook Christmas carolers, beautiful shop windows and just about the best customer service you could imagine. Without doubt, it will be a night to remember! Be sure to pick up a Passport to Christmas (inside the Sidney Christmas Wish Book), collect 12 stamps from various merchants and be entered to win one of three grand prizes! For the little ones there will be a gingerbread house scavenger hunt with prizes from local toy, candy and bookstores.
All season long in Sidney you can enjoy a full lineup of festive activities including horse-drawn carriage tours on Saturdays and Sundays in December from noon until 4 p.m. and traditional carol singers each weekend from 1 to 4 p.m. Enjoy a festive ride through downtown Sidney and take in the charming holiday ambiance. Be sure to pick up a hot beverage and something to eat from one of Sidney’s lively coffee shops or restaurants before you depart.
Add to the holiday magic by attending one of the many holiday concerts at the Mary Winspear Centre or the Peninsula Players traditional pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk. Plan to visit one or more of several Christmas craft shows, the popular Teddy Bear exhibit at the Sidney Historical Museum, and Christmas in the Village at Heritage Acres where children can take train rides and visit with Santa. The Mary Winspear Centre is a collection point for Toys for Tots and will once again feature the Festival of Trees display and a LEGO Christmas village display. The Community Arts Council showcases the Artisans Gift Gallery at Tulista Park on Fifth Street, a perfect place to select a beautiful handmade gift for that special person on your holiday gift list.
Pick up a copy of the Sidney Christmas Wish Book & Passport, which details all the activities and events taking place in Sidney and on the Peninsula, all over downtown Sidney. It also includes recipes from local business owners and the gingerbread house scavenger hunt map, and you will find a sample of offerings from Sidney retailers highlighting unique products and gift ideas to make your holiday shopping fun and easy!
For more information visit distinctlysidney.ca. To book a carriage tour call 250-883-3651.
