Harlem Country Christmas Approaches

The Harlem Civic Association invites everyone to their Harlem Country Christmas and Soup Supper event scheduled for Sunday, December 15 from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Harlem Community Center, formerly the Harlem VFW “Vet’s Club” and Bowling Alley located at 530 Central Avenue West.

Vendor Tables will open at 2:00 p.m., and those attending the Country Christmas event will have shopping opportunities until 7:00 on Sunday evening. Some of the vendors already registered include Emily Olson, who creates jewelry, crafts, and various fur-accented items; the St. Thomas Catholic Church with their Nativity Scene and bake sale; Carol Warburton, an Independent Distributor for SeneGence International, which is a cosmetic and personal care company that carries not only its premier product, LipSense, but other anti-aging skin care, nourishing hair care, and other beauty products; and Wildtree, which offers affordable meal solutions for busy people while accommodating a variety of dietary restrictions and preferences, including gluten-free, low-sugar, vegetarian, vegan, kosher, and organic options.

In addition to holiday shopping at the Country Christmas event, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on-site and available from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. for pictures/selfies with Santa. Then, beginning at 4:00 and lasting until 7:00 p.m., a Soup Supper will be served. A variety of soups will be available for a free will donation to support the Harlem Civic Association (HCA) in sponsoring future Community Events.

“Right now we’re planning to serve a taco soup, chicken noodle, and a chili or a stew. We are running a poll on social media to determine people’s preferences. The meal will also come with a roll, various toppings—like cheese and sour cream—for the soups, and then some type of cookie or bar for dessert,” Kayla Hudon, HCA Member reported.

To make the Country Christmas a success, the Harlem Civic Association is still seeking vendors who wish to rent an eight-foot table for $15.00. Tables will be provided by the Civic Association, and vendors will be able to set-up beginning at noon on Sunday. Vendor table fees are non-refundable and must be paid before tables will be reserved. Interested parties can private message the HCA on Facebook or contact Hudon at 353-4620 or 945-0090.

“Every year we learn something new, so the event continues to be different. Like this year, we decided not to have a chili cook-off, and we’re not selling pictures with Santa; you have to take your own. We also extended our hours to 7:00 p.m. to give people a chance not only to come and eat but also to stay and shop,” Hudon explained.