Toronto group held Christmas festival, parade

CHRISTMAS SCENE — Many turned out to shop for Christmas gifts and decorations Saturday at the 16th annual Toronto Christmas Arts Festival. The event was held at the Karaffa Recreation Center by Focus in Toronto, the volunteer group that also was behind the city’s Christmas parade on Sunday and has scheduled truck-pulled wagon rides to see the many houses in the Gem City decorated for the holidays. — Warren Scott

TORONTO — Residents and visitors in the Gem City had an opportunity to shop for the holidays and enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas thanks to the efforts of a small but hardworking group.

The volunteers of Focus in Toronto held the 16th annual Toronto Christmas Art Festival on Saturday while also organizing a Christmas parade with 75 units the following day.

And their work isn’t done yet, with tours of the city’s many decorated homes and a Christmas lighting contest still ahead for them.

Many who turned out for the festival held at the Karaffa Recreation Center brought with them canned goods and other nonperishable food collected for the Helping Hands Food Pantry and toys for Crossroads North River Church’s campaign to make Christmas merry for local children in need.

As a reward for their donations, they received free entry into hourly drawings held during the event.

Brenda Cich, president of Focus in Toronto, said in addition to the above charities, the group donates a portion of its proceeds to Christmas with a Cop, a yearly effort in which the city’s police officers deliver gifts to local children in need.

Vendors found in the Commons Area and gym of the recreation center, a former school, sold an assortment of Christmas decorations, jewelry, sweet treats and other items suited for gift-giving.

Among the vendors was Debbie McLaughlin of Mingo Junction, who sold hand-made wreaths adorned with bows and other decorations in a variety of colors, including various hues of red and green and even pink and light blue.

McLaughlin said with the help of her husband, Joe, she assembles wreaths for many occasions throughout the year and is a regular also at the Toronto Art Festival, which also is held by Focus in Toronto each Labor Day weekend.

Also on hand was Ralph Campbell, proprietor of Tin Man Art Work, who was selling bird feeders and mailboxes he has made from wood, discarded license plates from various states, hubcaps, spark plugs and other recycled items.

Campbell said his first he made for his son and after that, it grew into a sideline.

Also a member of a license plate collectors club, he said, “I have 45 or 46 states.’ Some of them are harder to find. Florida, California, Texas — you find these anywhere and everywhere because there are so many people in those states.”

“Ohio’s population is just below 12 million, so the state sells a lot of license plate,” he said.

Also on hand were members of the Toronto Band Parents and the Toronto High School Band, who sold haluski, meatball sandwiches and other food in the center’s kitchen.

After wrapping up the festival on Saturday afternoon, members of Focus in Toronto set about preparing for Sunday evening’s Christmas parade, which included about 75 units, many of them lighted.

In addition to area emergency vehicles and floats produced by local businesses and organizations, the procession included an appearance by Santa Claus.

Resembling a sleigh, the truck-pulled wagon on which Santa appeared is one of two such wagons used by Focus in Toronto for its Christmas lights tour.

Tickets are $3 for students and senior citizens and $5 for other adults, with children 5 and under admitted free.

Cich noted a plexiglass shield has been purchased to keep the wind out of passengers’ faces, but everyone still is encouraged to dress warmly for the 30-minute rides, which will leave from North River Avenue near the Toronto Red Knights Stadium between Dec. 17 and 22.

Currently, rides still are available on Dec. 17, 21 and 22 and can be booked online at focusintoronto.com.

They are a collaboration between the group and Hike Toronto, another volunteer group working to establish a series of walking trails in the city.

Cich said the rides started after members of the group and others joined Santa for a surprise ride through the city in 2020, the year when COVID limited social gatherings.

“We had so much fun, we said we have to do that for everybody. You can’t do it and not be happy,” she said.

Santa’s sleigh also will play a part in the Christmas lighting contest, with the winner and companions receiving their own ride through the city as well as up to $100 for dinner at a Toronto restaurant.

Cich said residents interested in participating in the contest should register, through the same website, no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the night on which judging will be done.

Lights should be on by 7 p.m.

Mary Ann Parker of Toronto said of the festival, “I think it’s very enjoyable. It has the Christmas spirit.

LaDawn Firm, also of Toronto, noted Inspire Toronto, another volunteer group, also held two Christmas-themed events recently.

“Toronto has really done a lot (for Christmas) this year. It’s nice,” she said.