by Rachel Hunter
All North Country families are invited to the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Community Christmas in the Village Park. The Christmas festivities and parade will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
As faithful readers of the Gouverneur Tribune Press will recall, the newest attraction this year is the two live reindeer from the Shortsville Reindeer Farm in Shortsville, NY, which has been in operation since 2017. Coming to Gouverneur will be a three-and-a-half year old cow, Sassy, and her one-and-half-year old daughter, Brida. North Country families are reminded that reindeer do not generally like to be touched (especially on their antlers), but that attendees will be able to feed the reindeer and get pictures taken with them. All attendees should listen to the reindeer handler's instructions. Mike Schaertl of the Shortsville Reindeer Farm told the Gouverneur Tribune Press this week that the reindeer don't like carrots but have been known to eat apple slices and raisins. The handler has been known to accept hot chocolate, coffee and sweet treats from the folks visiting the reindeer. Families are also informed not to wear boots or clothing that has been recently exposed to goats or sheep, as goats and sheep harbor an airborne virus that is deadly to the reindeer. The reindeer visit is sponsored by local businesses Northland Veterinary Hospital, Mrs. Beasley's Liquor & Wine, Kinney Drugs, and the Gouverneur Hospital, as well as personal donations from the Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees.
The Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce will also welcome Santa Claus back to the North Country on Saturday, December 3 during the Annual Christmas Parade. Line-up begins at 4 p.m. and the parade begins marching at 5 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to attend with their business, civic organization, sports team, family, etc. by marching or riding on a float or vehicle. Parade participants are asked to start lining up in the municipal parking lot near Aubuchon. Lighting up your marchers and floats is encouraged since it is dark at 5 p.m. when the parade starts. The Chamber will award $50 to the best holiday float or vehicle attending. If you have candy for the children, please hand it out only, no throwing it to the children due to safety reasons. For more information, call the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce at 315-287-0331. Santa Claus will arrive by fire truck at the end of the parade and will greet children in the village gazebo afterwards. Santa will have a small gift for each child, sponsored by Northern Credit Union and the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035.
The Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce Community Christmas in the Village Park will commence at 2 p.m. with children’s games, bounce house by Aubuchon Hardware, food trucks, vendor fair and refreshments, and more. To join the vendor fair, contact the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce. Chamber members pay no feed and others pay a nominal $15 charge. In addition, MacFadden-Dier Insurance will sponsor free horse-drawn wagon rides around the Gouverneur Savings & Loan parking lot and the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce provides free hot chocolate and cookies in the basement of the Methodist Church. Gouverneur merchants are encouraged to stay open that evening to add to the festive atmosphere and increase their visibility.
The Gouverneur Lions Club will also be hosting the second weekend of its Christmas Tree Sale fundraising event in the Gouverneur Village Park on Saturday, December 3. Christmas trees will be available starting at 1 p.m. until all the trees are gone. For more information, text 315-771-1433.
The Community Health Center of the North Country will hold a donation drive at the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Community Christmas in the Park on Saturday, December 3, 2 to 7 p.m., at the Gouverneur Village Park. The Community Health Center of the North Country is partnering with GFC Food Pantry and Baskets of Hope to collect donations of household items and winter clothing for those in need. Household items (toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc.) and winter clothing (coats, hats, boots, etc.) will be collected to support those in need in the North Country. Items can be dropped off at the CHCNC table during the Christmas In The Park event on December 3, or at the Health Center (77 West Barney Street) leading up to the event. More information will be reported about this event in an upcoming edition of the Gouverneur Tribune Press.
There is much anticipation building in Gouverneur for the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Community Christmas in the Gouverneur Village Park on Saturday, December 3, 2 to 7 p.m., with parade featuring Santa Claus, starting at 5 p.m. (lineup at 4 p.m.). For more information about the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce, visit gouverneurchamber.net.