Chamber of Commerce kicks of winter market season with Halloween Market

Tim Brody - Editor

A steady stream of community members visited the Sioux Lookout Chamber of Commerce’s Halloween Market, which was held on October 27 at Sioux Mountain Public School.
The first of three winter markets organized by the Chamber, Chamber executive assistant Kelsey Raynard said things went very well, “I was super happy with the turnout of vendors. We had a ton of people from within and outside of the community interested in it. We have 20 vendors here today… we have had a ton of people come through our doors.”
“We had such a successful summer with the Farmer’s Markets and the Chamber of Commerce is really just happy to be able to provide the opportunity, both to these local businesses who don’t necessarily have storefronts, but also to the community members,” Raynard commented.
She informed, “There is a Grey Cup Market on November 24 and the Last Minute Market on December 15. This is an opportunity for some of the vendors who don’t necessarily fit into the parameters of the Farmer’s Market to come and showcase some of the items that they have for sale.”
Both markets will be at the Sioux Mountain Public School gymnasium and will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Raynard said the Chamber has several events planned for the upcoming holiday season, such as Moonlight Madness.
“That’s to be Friday, November 23, the day before the Grey Cup Market. That’s Black Friday weekend, which we know a lot of people have in their mind to go shopping, so we want to provide people an opportunity to spend their money in the community.”
She added, “During Moonlight Madness, we’re also going to have the Christmas lights ceremony where we light up the trees in Centennial Park and the lights on Front Street that businesses have purchased. It’s really just getting into the holiday spirit, especially for people new to Sioux Lookout, showing them you can get Christmas ready here. There are places to buy gifts and things to do with your family.”
“We also have the Festival of Trees going on December 1. That was something that was thought up by some of our board members and that’s going to be taking place at the Heritage Railways Station. The thought is businesses and individuals can all come in and showcase their business by decorating a tree… You can do a wreath; it doesn’t have to be full tree,” Raynard said.
“We want to have a winter wonderland and we also want to combine that with the opportunity for pictures with Santa, which is something the Municipality does anyway, so why not make this one big event. There’s going to be kids activities, snacks, crafts, lots of good things,” she concluded.