One of the most popular activities at the Garden Party Christmas Market are the horse-drawn wagon rides which take you throughout the downtown area. Tinkess Photo

WINCHESTER – The Garden Party Christmas Market brought the sense of the Christmas season to Winchester in a big was last weekend, and a huge turnout of potential customers took advantage of the day to spend the day in search of unique gift ideas that couldn’t be found in a big box store or online.

The sun was shining brightly all day, and while it wasn’t quite as warm as last year, the freshness in the air might have done more to put people in a holiday frame of mind.

Kelly Windle, the proprietor of The Planted Arrow Flower and Gift Shop, and organizer of the Garden Party Market series of events was extremely pleased with how things were going.

“So far today, we’ve been having a wonderful day,” said Windle. “I can’t complain; there are lots of smiling faces, lots of people saying they’re having a great time. I think it is as successful as last year.

“And, you know,  as long as the sun keeps shining, people are in high spirits, and it gets everybody out. So, this is my grandfather doing this for me.”

There were a total of 55 vendors, including the snowsuit fund and Community Food Share, and the United and Presbyterian Churches on top of that number.

This is the fifth year for the Christmas Market, three years on St. Lawrence St. and two years on Main St., and it seems to have hit its stride, attracting lots of vendors and customers both local and from as far away as Brockville and Ottawa. And why not, there was a whole lot going on in addition to the vendors and artisans.

Carollers wandered through the market, serenading  everyone with some of the most-loved Christmas songs and carols. Santa and Mrs. Claus were on hand next to the Painted Arrow, checking their “Nice” list, giving last minute suggestions to those who might need a nudge to move from the “Naughty” list and posing for photos.

Further up the block there was the Happy Little Farmstead petting zoo, a craft area organized by the Boys and Girls Club, and horse drawn wagon rides. At different locations firepits were set up where you could stop to enjoy the warmth for a moment.

Gifts to purchase, tasty treats and the feeling that comes from shopping in a local market where you know every purchase is appreciated. In so many ways it is a perfect example of people helping people.

“A lot of people are having a hard time this year, so it’s just nice to be able to provide something free for the community,” said Windle. “They can come out and enjoy a horse drawn wagon ride, pictures with Santa Claus, the petting zoo, and you know, thanks to our sponsors for all of that. They really make this possible.”