The Chiefswood Park (CWP) Holiday festival is making its return this weekend to the Six Nations community.

It's the second annual edition of the festival which will feature over 50 artisans vendors' booths, a skating rink (weather permitting), food merchants, a photo booth, a holiday light display and activities like face painting.

CWP Park Manager Spring Sault spoke on being able to put on the event for the community with restrictions from COVID-19 being eased.

"It's amazing, actually, everybody who we see coming through the gates they say 'Happy Holidays, It's great to see you, it's good to see a happy friendly face'. And then with the cabin experience, the shopping allows for that same kind of social distancing concept," Sault said. "So it gives them a little more ease, they are out in the community, they are able to shop together but they still have that peace of mind and comfort."

Sault said the success from last year's event allowed the park to extend this year's event to a two-day experience. She said that many of the vendors have been returned for the second festival and she expects the event to continue to grow in the coming years.

"We're definitely trying to grow and outdo ourselves from last year," she said.

"We have an amazing facility here and that I really hope the community members get to enjoy," she added.

This year's vendors include many local artists, who have been spotlighted on the CWP Facebook page, and Sault spoke on the importance of showcasing their work.

"We try very hard to invest in the vendors ourselves here at the park year round, but what we've noticed is a lot of the local crafters that we've worked with over the period of COVID-19 obviously didnt have outlets, they weren't able to be online necessarily, all of the events they previously went to weren't happening. And so with last years launch and this years repeat , we've tried even more to shine a light on them."

The Chiefswood Park Holiday Festival will take place at Chiefswood Park this Saturday, Nov. 26, and Sunday, Nov. 27 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Admission to the event is free, but the park manager is encouraging cash or food donations. Food donations will be taken to the Six Nations Food Bank after the event, and cash donations will be donated to Ogwadeni:deo holiday toy drive.

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