It’s an annual yuletide tradition that local residents have come to depend on.
On Saturday, Dec. 2, The Friends of Beaverdams Church are opening the doors of the restored heritage site to sing some carols with friends old and new.
“It’s a little bit different than other years,” explains group member Donna Cowan, in an interview with ThoroldToday. “Rev. Ken MacQuarrie and Clint Sears are going to lead the carols. We’re going to have them play guitar. We’ll have a cup of hot chocolate, wish each other a merry Christmas and away we go.”
Just like previous editions, the event is part of a food drive for Community Care.
“It’s going to be a truck parked in front of the church for people to make donations,” says Cowan. “It’s a way to start the season in the right way and also for Beaverdams to give back to the community.”
It’s been a big year for the heritage preservation group now that the building's restoration is close to complete. This fall, the group hosted a concert, as well as their annual Apple Fest at the church.
“That was a huge success,” Cowan says. “Everybody wanted to see the interior. We still got lots to do but it’s usable inside for events.”
The last big project the 'Friends’ are still trying to accomplish is the installation of an external washroom.
“We’re trying to sort that out,” says Cowan. “There’s variances and things that have to be sorted. You have to go through the process. It’s been almost ten years that this restoration has been going on, but you can kind of see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Cowan hopes to see people come out in droves on Saturday so that the 'Friends' can celebrate all the volunteers and generous donations that have helped restore the heritage site to its former glory.
“It’s a way to start the season in the right way of giving,” she says. “It’s a way to meet friends, neighbours. It’s a chance to see the interior, how far we’ve gotten. Maybe people want to see inside. Well, this is a great opportunity to do that.”
The food drive for Community Care will take place this Saturday, Dec. 2, at Beaverdams Church at 1 p.m. The town crier will kick off the carol singing event at 1:30 p.m., which will be followed by a wreath hanging ceremony.