Dave Ogilvie
“Holly Daze” 2011, which took place this past Friday and Saturday in Emo, was deemed a success by most.
Despite a rather chilly breeze, the “Santa Claus” parade on Friday evening was extremely well-attended.
A large crowd lined both sides of Front Street to admire the brightly-lit floats, wait for Santa, and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, courtesy of the Emo rec council.
Following the parade, most people stayed around to watch a fantastic fireworks display.
For both Friday and Saturday, the place to be in Emo was clearly the Royal Canadian Legion.
District author Elaine Wilson was extremely pleased with the turnout. Over the two-day period, she sold more than 250 copies of her book, “At Home on the Trapline.”
For those who missed purchasing a copy during “Holly Daze,” Wilson will have copies available for $15 each at Quality Custom Sewing & Upholstery and Betty’s in Fort Frances, the Emo Public Library, Cloverleaf Grocery, and Tompkins Home Hardware in Emo, and Dalseg’s and Monique’s Lawg Caybun in Nestor Falls.
The Emo Legion kitchen staff also was kept busy during the two-day celebration, serving up soup, sandwiches, and tea/coffee to those looking for a light lunch.
While dropping by to purchase a book or enjoy lunch with some friends, shoppers also took advantage of the various vendors at the annual “Crafts Galore” sale.
Many people went home with something special for a friend or relative.
The penny tables operated by the local Legion and the Emo Curling Club also were very popular with many of the visitors who stopped by.
Santa then arrived at 1 p.m. and promptly was greeted by a long line of youngsters eager to tell him what they wanted for Christmas and to have their picture taken.
Payment for the pictures was a donation of a non-perishable food item or a cash donation to the “Food Cupboard” at St. George’s Anglican Church in Emo.
The response to this worthy cause throughout the weekend was gratefully received by the volunteers there.
Staff at Emo Drugs, meanwhile, said business was extremely brisk, especially on Saturday morning.
Shoppers who missed the “Holly Daze” sales are encouraged to drop in to check out the variety of gifts still available during the holiday season.
Over at Tompkins Hardware, Tom Mosbeck and staff also were pleased with the number of people who dropped by the store during “Holly Daze.”
All the items (especially the toys) which appear in the Christmas catalogue will remain on sale right up until Christmas.
Finally, the “Holly Daze” draw winners of $250 in “Emo Bucks” were Deb Cousineau (entered at Borderland Esso) and Roger Irvine (entered at West End Motors).
With “Holly Daze” now in the books, Emo Chamber of Commerce members will be thinking about next year.
If you would like to help with the parade, or run a particular event, mention it to one of the members and they’ll be sure to put you on the list for “Holly Daze” 2012.
