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November never disappoints
November never really disappoints me. The weather is always “as expected”, that is to say “the unexpected happens” in November. It’s overcast and rainy one day, then brilliantly warm and sunny the next and perhaps a combination of sunshine, cold temperatures with a bit of a breeze to shake the last of the leaves from the trees, another day. This past weekend a big splash of sunshine arrived at the Crystal Palace. Holly Jolly PEC was a November treat which didn’t disappoint. Holly Jolly was full of lovely aromas, creative gifts, delicious treats and just the right amount of jostling. Heck, even Santa Claus made an early appearance to remind everyone to be “nice”. It was a good time to catch up with old friends, chitchat with friends who operate local businesses, reminisce with new friends who are the grandchildren of old friends and meet a bunch of people who have started new businesses in our County Neighbourhood! It’s refreshing to see so many new ventures opening and testing the waters here. The County is a great place to test drive a small business, and it’s really exciting if it’s a creative adventure.
And, while I am a bit of a grouch about some aspects of what a crazy tourist community Prince Edward County has become, I do know Tourism is a very important economic sector for all of us. Tourism has always been, and will continue to be, a necessity for the County. And from what LOML and I saw and heard during and after our visit to Holly Jolly PEC, a goodly number of people attending market type events, like Holly Jolly PEC and Maker’s Hand, are visitors to the County. This past weekend the Crystal Palace was booming with people who were shopping for Holiday treats and treasures. After we’d cruised the aisles of HJPEC we decided to have lunch out. At the restaurant we saw at least a dozen people who were visiting the County and who had been to Holly Jolly PEC. Who knows, a few of those visitors may have stayed in one of the local inns, hotels or B & Bs. Y’all know we can never have enough of those attractive events in our community. They are economic drivers. They’re good for “us locals” who like to catch-up, and a great experience for all of the friends, the families and the others who drop by for a good time. It’s just good business all around. And speaking of good business, how about all of the new businesses which have opened recently!? Such innovation! Of course starting a small business in a small, rural community is risky. But if you’re going to take the risk, why not do that right here where the support is always close by?
LOML and I didn’t get out to the evening shopping event in the downtown of Picton, but from what I’ve heard it was another roaring success! The interesting thing about our County Main Streets is how the old standbys mix with new businesses. When we came to the County in 1972 we found a rental home between the Town of Picton and the Village of Demorestville. There certainly wasn’t too much to see or do on “the outskirts of here and there”. Being refugees from the big city, we eventually moved into Picton and have been living here since 1973. Of course the look of the retail areas in our local downtowns have changed a lot in those fifty years. Sometimes the changes are better. Sometimes the changes are fleeting. Sometimes the changes have been a bit of “meh”. In the long run the changes have been good. The feel of the County is pretty much the same as it always was, but now there’s this mix of new, creative and exciting connections in our comfort zone.
Ah, November, you never disappoint. On the 24th our favourite nighttime parade will be happening in Bloomfield. Once a brand-new idea, the Bloomfield Nighttime Santa Claus Parade has become a classic way to start to the Festive Season. I’m looking forward to seeing “what’s new” in the Parade when Santa comes to town on Friday night.
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