The annual Festival of Lights, the main fundraiser for the Stettler Health Services Foundation, kept the Stettler Community Hall busy starting Tuesday, Nov. 22 until its culmination with the annual gala on Saturday, Nov. 26.
"The money raised stays right here in Stettler and is used by our hospital foundation for improvements in our very own Stettler Hospital," Festival of Lights chair Sue Peterson said. "This year, the money raised will be used to assist with current upgrades focused on the ER at our hospital. Our wish list includes a Vision 2 Veinviewer, a Qube bedside monitor, a LifePak 15 V2 and accessories, a SureSigns monitor and an epidural positioning device."
The week started with a pancake breakfast that was sponsored by ATCO Electric. With the cost of the event covered by ATCO's sponsorship, the entry fee went entirely to the foundation's coffers.
Later on that Tuesday evening, Stephanie Hadley hosted "Christmas Art and Cheer," during which time the 180 or so attendees were able to paint a picture of a moonlit winter birch forest. The event "morphed" from "Eat Dessert First Night," Peterson said.
"While several people commented prior to the event that they were very sorry to see 'Dessert Night' go...the results were beautiful," she said. "We've been told by those who attended they are already looking forward to next year."
Sharon Anderson attended the event with friends Kate Syson, Erin Prehn and Candace Rider, and thought she was in for an evening of art viewing, wine and appetizers.
Instead, she ended up with a paint brush in hand. "It's been a lot of fun," Anderson said, admitting she actually enjoyed the night much more than she thought she would.
"We were all pleasantly surprised at how our art turned out," she said, explaining that none in the group had any artistic experience with acrylics prior to the night.
Wednesday's Festival of Lights events started with the afternoon "Sharing the Season Seniors Tea", which had many of Stettler and area seniors converge on the hall to enjoy cups of coffee and tea, along with snacks.
The opportunity to get together with friends in such a cheerful atmosphere, as the hall was gaily decorated with Christmas trees and ornaments, makes it worth braving the cool temperatures to come out, attendee Evelyn Shursen said.
One of the bright points of the afternoon was the performance of the Stettler Elementary School students, who came to sing Christmas songs during the tea.
"I've never been to (the tea) before, but I thoroughly enjoyed it," Janice Waugh, who lives in Stettler, said. "The choir was amazing."
The evening saw Stettler's adults enjoy a bit of Christmas spirit at the "Christmas Spirits" event, where they could sample different type of spirits in a social setting. Stettler's jazz band, the Jazz Guys, serenaded the crowd with several popular tunes.
A new event this year, the "A&W Burgers and Beer" afternoon, premiered on Thursday, Nov. 24.
The RSVP event had about 300 people come in to enjoy burgers prepared by the local A&W restaurant. Youth were able to enjoy root beer, while craft beers were on tap for the adults.
"A new event like this is a lot of guess work," volunteer Barbara-Lynn Goodwin said. "It keeps you hopping."
Halfway through the event volunteers were sent scrambling after more bacon, as "people apparently like bacon a lot more than we thought," Goodwin said.
In the four years she's been volunteering with the festival, Goodwin said the event has definitely been one of the favourites she's worked.
"This kind of group of people, the youngsters and the young families, are great," she said.
Board games were laid out at every table, leaving families with multiple activities to play while enjoying their burgers and chips.
The final night of the festival featured the annual gala, which had more than 200 people in attendance.
"The gala event is always well attended by folks who are willing to spend their money on our auction items in support of our hospital," Peterson said. "I am very impressed by our sponsors and those who attend the event. I am also impressed with the excitement of our committee as they prepare and set up for each event."
While Peterson said the number is down from usual, the slightly smaller crowd provided more room in the hall.
"Our wonderful auctioneers Dick Creasey and Kevin Sorenson provided much entertainment during the live bidding," Peterson said. "Our sponsors were very generous again this year and their donations brought in top dollars."
The mix of both mainstay, popular events and new drew in thousands of people over the week, though final numbers won't be available for some time yet, Peterson said.