Just Giving Tuesday
On Tuesday, Dec.2 St.Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation will participate in Giving Tuesday. This year your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000. SFVHF thanks these community Match-It Donors for making this possible: Killaloe and Area Lions Club, Palmer Rapids and Area Lions Club, Quadeville & District Service Club, Rotary Club of Eganville, Barry’s Bay Royal Canadian Legion Branch 406, St. Francis Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Madawaska Valley Lions Club, Anonymous Sponsor in Memory of Dorothy Corbeil, Anonymous Sponsor.
Holly Jolly
Everyone is invited to join the Barry’s Bay & Area Skating Club (2025-2026) on Wednesday Dec.3 for their community Christmas event at the Paul J. Yakabuski Community Centre from 5-7pm. Dress festive, have fun skating and enjoy a bake sale, Christmas crafts, pizza too. Skating $5/family $2/individual (Donations welcome from businesses and individuals)
Catch The Ace
Remember to buy a ticket in SFVHF’s popular progressive lottery. Midnight on Wednesday Dec.3 is the deadline to buy an online ticket, while in-person tickets are sold until 1pm on Thursday. Last Thursday, Nov.27 Mary Ann Brown won $1,118 in the Week #11 draw. You could be the Week #12 winner of a Weekly Prize estimated at $1,140 or the estimated Jackpot prize of $20,050.
Killaloe Public Library Holiday Open House
All are welcome at the annual KPS Holiday Open House on Thursday Dec.4 from 6-8p,m. This year’s event features music by the OK Chorale, festive readings, light refreshments.
Spot the Cold Moon
The third consecutive supermoon seen this year will be December’s full moon. It’s called the Cold Moon and according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, it will appear bigger and brighter than your average full moon, about about eight percent larger in diameter and about 16 pe cent brighter. Peak illumination is expected on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 6:14 p.m. EST.
Madawaska Valley Food Bank – Radiothon
Friday Dec.5 is the annual The Moose FM Radiothon for MV Food Bank and is a great excuse to do your grocery shopping on Friday. This live on-air in-store event takes place from 10 am to 1 pm at Yuill’s Your Independent Grocer and from 2 pm to 5 pm at Metro. This is the Food Bank’s biggest fundraiser each year and their 2025 goal is $20,000 to put them well on the way to a 2025 total of $45,000.
Tree of Lights annual lighting ceremony
Valley residents are invited to gather this Friday Dec.5 at 6:30 pm for the annual Tree of Lights at the Railway Station Park in Barry’s Bay. Angels from local elementary schools will help to illuminate the tree, Santa and his mini-petting zoo will visit, and the Station Keepers Choir will provide the music. Refreshments available. This free event is open to all members of the community.
Moonlight Madness
This year it’s not only Barry’s Bay retailers that will be open – the Madawaska Valley Public Library offers a story and Christmas craft for kids before the Tree Lighting, and then stays open until 8pm with gift wrapping and a Craft Market featuring local artisans. Businesses in downtown Barry’s Bay will stay open after the Tree of Lights ceremony until 9 pm on Friday, Dec.5 so you can enjoy the strolling carolers while Christmas shopping during the annual Moonlight Madness.
Killaloe Farmers Christmas Market
The annual Killaloe Farmers Christmas Market takes place indoors on Saturday, December 6, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Killaloe Lions Hall, 18 Lake St., Killaloe.
Santa Claus Parade and Party
On Saturday, Dec.6 starting at 12 pm the 59th Annual Madawaska Valley Lions Santa Claus Parade takes place on Main Street in Barry’s Bay.
The Santa Party will be held at the Paul J. Yakabuski Community Centre following the Parade from 1 pm – 3 pm. This year’s event features lots of free family fun including: colouring, crafts, letters to Santa, scavenger hunt, take a picture with Santa, cookie decorating, photo booth, and face painting. Refreshments include hot chocolate, cold drinks, hot dogs. The event is jointly sponsored by the Barry’s Bay Recreation Committee, Madawaska Valley Lions, and Madawaska Valley Public Library.
Photo: David Olivier-Gascon on Unsplash.com