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Jeff Green | Dec 04, 2008

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Sydenham High School students in the Sydenham Santa Claus parade on Saturday.

Saturday November 28 was a busy day in Sydenham. The annual Santa Claus Parade sponsored by the Loughborough Firefighters Association started right on time on a beautiful sunny morning.

The parade was a hit as usual, due to individuals and community groups who gave it their all with their costumes and floats, a festive feast for the eyes that leisurely looped its way through Sydenham's downtown core.

Santa off course was the grand finale, last in line, but as always well worth the wait.

Loughborough PS student and budding entrepreneur Amy Walton set up her hot chocolate/snack booth stand right in front of her house on the parade route for her 4th year in a row and it was her best year yet.

After the parade many people headed up the street for a tasty bite of lunch put on by Jean Stott and the Anglican Church Women (ACW) at St. Paul’s Anglican Church. For a mere $50 customers chose from a menu that included a wide range of homemade soups, sandwiches, squares and cookies. Orders were taken and served by three enthusiastic young waitresses, all students at Loughborough Public School.

Photo: students from Loughborough Public School serve lunch at St. Paul's Aglican Church. Ainslie Beattie, Lyndsey Paquin and Lauren Keyes

After lunch many of us headed up the hill to Loughborough Public School for their 11th Annual Craft Fair to do a bit of seasonal shopping. Retired grade 3 teacher Ursula Barbier, with the help of many students at the school, organized the canteen and the 40 craft vendors who lined the school's halls and filled its gym.

On offer to shoppers were a wide variety of crafts that included jewelry, greeting cards, knit wear, wooden games, photography, preserves, bead work, and an array of festive seasonal ornaments.

Barbier was pleased with how the show ran and received numerous compliments from vendors about how helpful all of the student volunteers were.

All in all, it was a great day in Sydenham, a chance to celebrate the season, eat good food and support local crafters. What more could anyone want on a sunny Saturday in Sydenham with Christmas just a few short weeks away?