Stephanie Brown
Contributor
The Navigator

Photo courtesy of Denis Woodske

The Kris Kringle craft fair will be celebrating their 20th anniversary with a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate their first year at a new location in Nanaimo.

Historically the craft fair has been hosted in Qualicum and Parksville, and this year will mark the largest fair yet. This year, the fair boasts over 150 vendors and will be held at the Beban Park Centre from November 14-17.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Thursday at noon and will serve a large cake and balloons for kids.

Door prizes will be drawn each day for those in attendance. The first 100 guests will also receive a 20th Anniversary Keepsake Kris Kringle button.

Westjet is holding a contest, sending the winners on a trip anywhere the company flies. In addition, daily resort prizes will be awarded, as well as hourly $50 gift certificates from Quality Foods. On Thursday at 8pm there is a bonus draw for a $1000 Kris Kringle shopping spree. The winner will have a time limit of 30 minutes to pick out the gifts, and the staff in attendance will carry the items to the car.

It’s $10 per day for adults, and $8 for seniors and students. Children 12 and under can attend for free. A four day pass, including entry and multiple prize draws, costs $14.

As in previous years, Kris Kringle himself will be present to take pictures with children. There will be cookie decorating, carolers, stilt walkers, and jugglers. There will also be free carriage rides with hot chocolate from 12-3pm, and Farmer Vicki with Daisy the Cow will be there on Saturday and Sunday from 11-3pm.

For people and vendors coming from out of town, the Howard Johnson Harbourside Hotel, Ramada, Travelodge, Inn on Long Lake, and Port-o-Call Inn and Suites will be offering a Kris Kringle rate during the weekend of the craft fair.

Any Salvation Army donation is accepted at the door upon admission.

For more information and operation hours, as well as colouring pages for kids, visit the Craft Markets web page at kriskringle.ca.  Previous craft fairs from 2010 and 2012 can be viewed on Youtube.