Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa came to Reindeer Lane on November 25 at the Vegreville Social Centre!

Perogies and Jam was pleased to provide musical entertainment at the 6th Reindeer Lane where preschool children come to shop for their parents and siblings without them seeing what gifts they got for them. It’s also where children meet with Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas.

Emcee Don Harfield gave a warm welcome to families as they came to listen to music at noon. Randy Kereliuk of the local Off Ramp Boys band opened the event with songs including Gord Bamford’s song It’s an Alberta Christmas morning and Johnny Reid songs Winter Star and A Picture of You. Rob Hughes accompanied on drums.

The three-year-old pre-school children came on stage at 12:30 pm with their teacher Miss Rianna (Coutts) and assistant Miss Tammy (Iftody). To their parents and grandparent’s delight, they sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Jingle Bells complete with hand held bells that jingled to their songs.

Darlene Thibault performed several classic Christmas songs accompanied by Randy Kereliuk on acoustic guitar and Rob Hughes on drums. These included Silver Bells and the Little Drummer Boy. This was followed by Debbie Fedoruk and her singers: Tristan Neil sang Angels We Have Heard on High, Chelsea Malabanan sang The Candyman, Julia Dolejsi and Josie Lutzak sang a duet, and Megan Hoyteniuk sang Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. Debbie concluded the set with Santa Baby.

The four-year-old children came on stage at 1:30 pm with Miss Rianna and Miss Tammy and sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Jingle Bells and the Reindeer Pokey which got them doing the hokey pokey and turning all around.

Rod Werezuk and his daughters Meghan and Alyssa sang many Christmas favourites including the Little Drummer Boy, Alyssa’s solo on the 12 Days of Christmas, We Three Kings, I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas, O Holy Night, and concluding with Silent Night. Darlene Thibault, accompanied by Don Harfield on electric guitar, sang Frosty the Snowman, The Marvellous Toy, and Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer.

The final class of four-year-old children came on stage at 2:30 pm with Miss Rianna and Miss Tammy and sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Jingle Bells and the Reindeer Pokey which got them also doing the hokey pokey and turning all around. Like with the other pre-school children groups, cameras and parents gathered close to the stage to capture these special moments.

Mike Barter on 12 string guitar (on vocals) and his son Malachi on fiddle performed a set of mostly instrumental Christmas songs including Mary Did You Know, Little Drummer Boy, O Come All Ye Faithful and concluding with O Holy Night.

The music entertainment concluded just after 3:00 pm with organizer Sandra Antonchuk and Emcee Don Harfield thanking the families, the many volunteers and performers for coming to Reindeer Lane.

This annual event is sponsored by Flaman Rentals, Vegreville Parent Link Center, Community Association for Lasting Success, Vegreville Preschool Association, Vegreville & District Child Development Coalition, Vegreville Association for Living in Dignity, and Vegreville & District Family & Community Support Services.

Perogies and Jam thanks Flaman Rentals, Peter Thibault on the soundboard, Rob Hughes taking photos, the many volunteers and performers for helping make this a memorable Christmas event for the pre-school children and their families.

Photo Gallery
Photography by Rob Hughes and Don Harfield