Rockyford community organizes festive events to welcome holiday season
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Running alongside the Christmas market, community members in the Village of Rockyford took it upon themselves to Light up the Night with festive holiday activities.
Dalia Cheshire, who was heavily involved in the event’s organization, said part of the motivation came from a sudden surplus of new faces settling in Rockyford.
“We have had 30 new residents move into Rockyford – houses have been buying and selling like hotcakes,” she explained.
“Myself, the owner of the Rockyford Hotel and the owner of the concession stand Offside Grill, April Geeraert, we got together and we were talking one night … and we decided we ought to do something for Christmas.”
Similar to the hesitance over the Christmas market, local residents were wary over festivities due to ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19.
“We got a lot of negative feedback at first. The Village Council was actually against it and they voted against letting us have any of the funds that they had set aside for the Community Christmas Commotion because we were not the committee.”
Cheshire decided she disagreed with the Village and created a way for festivities to continue regardless of Village funding or support.
“A lot of people are afraid of COVID-19 and there is actually a committee (for Christmas Commotion) but they had actually decided not to do something. With the help of the Rockyford Lions Club, they donated the funds to have a hayride through the village streets,” said Cheshire about the event she helped to put on.
The Rockyford Fire Department ran the Santa Claus parade, escorting Santa and Frosty the Snow Man around the Village, while the Rockyford Agricultural Society donated ice time at the local rink for a complimentary skate with the fat man in red.
Cheshire herself, alongside Geeraert, offered complimentary smores around a bonfire for folks to indulge in while staying warm throughout the evening.
“We tried to make this a family event and we did this all in two weeks, got all our permits and our licensing … got everything scheduled and set up,” said Cheshire.
The team only started planning the event in late November, well after Remembrance Day ceremonies.
“Rockyford has a great community spirit. We always do something fabulous at Christmas time and so many people have cancelled their Christmas activities.”
Though similar to the market, only being intended as a one-off, Cheshire hinted if the Village wouldn’t host festive events next year, she would be open to pulling a repeat performance.