Winterfest 2009 brings out the best of Hope throughout the month of December. Sponsored by the Hope & District Arts Council and Envision Financial and organized by the Arts Council’s HRDC staff – all are invited to join in celebrating the Christmas and winter season and enjoy a month long series of events.

To start things off the Arts Council is sponsoring an ‘Intergenerational Art Event’. What could be more exciting than seeing great grandparents, grandparents, moms, dads and their children all displaying artwork in their own ‘Family Exhibits’! Group prizes (art supplies of your choice) will be awarded for first, second and third place as well as the Peoples’ Choice award. Entries must be dropped off at the Art Machine at 895 Third Avenue by 4:00 p.m. on November 30. All entries will be on display from December 1-15 at the Art Machine.

‘Writing Letters to Santa’ will take place at the Hope Regional Library on Saturday, December 5th from 1-3 p.m. with the help of ‘The Friends of the Library’ and Arts Council members. Santa will pay a visit and take the children’s letters back with him to the North Pole. Also on the same Saturday at the Hope Arts Gallery, there will be a Backroom opening reception for “The Christmas Room” from 7-9 p.m. With the many eclectic as well as traditional Christmas items available; this Art Guild fundraiser will be the perfect time to purchase some of these lovely hand- made items for Christmas gifts. Join the Hope Artists Guild members and enjoy some homemade cookies and hot cider. Donations to the food bank will also be accepted.

On the first day of Advent, Monday, December 7, the annual church walk will leave from the Hope United Church on Third Avenue. Walk to and take part in events planned at Christ Church Anglican, Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church, the Hope Pentecostal Church, Grace Baptist Church and the North West Harvest Church where the last service will take place. Don’t forget to ask for a Glo Stick to light your way.

Come out and enjoy a Christmas production written and put on by The Hope Little Theatre called “Going Postal” a Christmas Collection, at the Legion Hall on Friday, December 11 at 7 p.m. The actors will include some members of the Hope Secondary School drama club. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and are available at the Arts Council office, the Art Machine and from arts council members. Donations to the food bank will be accepted.

Winterfest organizers are once again partnering with Hope Cinema to put on a matinee showing of “Elf” on Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m. The cost is a can of food and a Toonie. Finish off the weekend by joining us on Sunday, December 13 at 4 p.m. for the Fourth Annual Yale Community Christmas Sing-Along at the Historic St. John the Divine Anglican Church in Yale B.C. This event is sponsored by the Yale & District Ratepayers Association, the Yale & District Historical Society and the Hope & District Arts Council. A potluck supper will follow in the gym of the Yale School located at 65050 Albert Street. All Hope and area residents are cordially invited to attend.

The Art Machine will host an Open House on Monday, December 14, and Tuesday, December 15 in the workshop space at 895 Third Avenue to celebrate a year of community arts programming. Come and see the “Intergenerational Art Event” exhibit, submit your selection for the People`s Choice award and enjoy some refreshments with The Art Machine staff, Diane Ferguson, Shanon Fischer and Paula Douglas. Children’s entertainer ‘Ishdafish’ will also be on hand from 3 – 4 p.m. on Tuesday, December 15th.

Tickets in the Art Machine raffle will also be drawn on December 15 at 3:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased from the arts council office at 349 Fort Street, the Hope Arts Gallery, Rolly’s, The Art Machine or from arts council members.

For more information about WinterFest events, contact the Arts Council office, at 604-869-3400, or email, hopearts@telus.net.