Similkameen Recreation Centre Manager Karl Donaghue said the Keremeos skating rink is on schedule for its December 8 official opening this year.
Below freezing temperatures throughout the final two weeks of November have aided maintenance crews, allowing the initial flooding to set properly. The ice surface was painted during the last weekend of November.
Potentially record setting low temperatures this week could be a curse rather than a blessing however, as excessive cold can cause the ice surface to shrink away from the boards.
Craft Fair tables for Christmas Light Up are fully booked, and Infocentre Manager Colleen Christensen is urging those interested to get their parade application in as soon as possible.
The Christmas “Colour the Village” event was expanded last week to include adults interested in supplying Christmas art for display in village business windows. The artwork was distributed earlier this week.
The Grist Mill will be providing a weekend of Christmas activity during Similkameen Light Up weekend (Dec. 7-8). There will be Christmas craft workshops, activities and Christmas stories for kids and families all day Saturday, traditional Christmas music performances both Saturday and Sunday, and a bounty of traditional Christmas baking to buy.
Mill staff will be serving Sunday brunch with a Christmas twist. Some items in the gift shop will be on sale from 10-25 per cent off, including the entire stock of West Coast seeds, books and more.
The third annual Similkameen Country Christmas Winery Open House Tour will run Dec. 6, 7 and 8, daily from 12 - 4 p.m.
All nine of the member wineries of the Similkameen Wineries Association will be open and serving up holiday cheer as part of the annual Keremeos Christmas Light Up celebration. In traditional holiday open house style, meander through the beautiful Similkameen and visit Cerelia, Clos du Soleil, Eau Vivre, Forbidden Fruit, Orofino, Robin Ridge, Rustic Roots, Sage Bush and Seven Stones wineries.