Christmas Festival of Trees and Crafts
Nova Scotians can once again join in the holiday spirit at the 19th annual Christmas Festival of Trees and Crafts in Middle Musquodoboit, Halifax Regional Municipality.
The event involves communities, industry and government in celebration of the natural balsam fir Christmas tree and its importance to Nova Scotia. The festival takes place at the Natural Resources Education Centre and the Musquodoboit Valley Education Centre, beginning on Friday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. and wrapping up on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 4 p.m.
Community groups and businesses decorate and display about 30 balsam fir trees, which are provided by the Natural Resources Education Centre woodlot, Glenmore Industries Ltd., and the Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Producers Association.
The opening ceremony takes place on Friday, Dec. 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Natural Resources Education Centre. There will be greetings by special guests, the tree-lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. and festive entertainment by youth choirs and community groups.
On Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Musquodoboit Valley Education Centre, the Festival of Crafts will provide opportunities for visitors to browse through displays of Nova Scotia's finest crafts. The $1 admission provides access to nearly 80 Maritime crafters, presenting a large variety of unique items. Visitors can also stop in to St. Nick's Café and enjoy a cup of warm apple cider and gingerbread served by local groups.
In collaboration with Conserve Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Power, organizations participating in the festival and local residents can save energy, money and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by bringing in two sets of incandescent holiday lights to exchange for one set of energy-efficient light emitting diode (LED) lights.
The exchange will take place at the opening ceremony from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Lights will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information on this event, visit www.gov.ns.ca/natr/extension/centre/christmas_festival_2008.html.
The Natural Resources Education Centre is located at 12014 Highway 224, Middle Musquodoboit. The Musquodoboit Valley Education Centre is located at 12046 Highway 224, Middle Musquodoboit. For detailed directions to the Natural Resources Education Centre, go to www.gov.ns.ca/natr/extension/centre/pdf/MiddleMap.pdf.