The Stouffville Holiday Market has quickly become a “hallmark event,” drawing thousands of people and earning provincial accolades.
Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) recognized the Town’s Leisure & Community Services Team with the 2023 Top 100 Festival Award and FEO Achievement Innovation Award for the event.
“After only two editions, The Stouffville Holiday Market has already become a hallmark event in our community. This event has become an attraction for not just our residents but for visitors from all around (York) Region and beyond,” says Mayor Iain Lovatt. “We are incredibly proud of our award-winning events team for bringing the magic of the holidays to the streets of Stouffville like never before.”
The Stouffville Holiday Market took place on historical Main Street and in Memorial Park from November 23 to 25. It featured a tree-lighting ceremony that was immediately followed by a holiday sing-along and included a partnership with Latcham Art Centre Beyond Craft Show that was held at 19 on the Park, the town’s downtown theatre.
The combined event drew about 18,000 people and also featured an outdoor artisanal marketplace, activations, roaming characters, a holiday train, horse and carriage rides, visits with Santa and refreshments. Entertainment was provided by artists like Don Amero, Good Lovelies, Preston Pablo and Shawn Hook.
FEO is a non-profit organization that represents more than 2,500 festivals and events in Ontario through its association membership, which includes festivals, events, suppliers, municipalities, schools, students, business improvement associations and more. Its Achievement Awards recognize excellence in festivals and events across the province and were presented at FEO’s Annual Awards Gala Dinner, which was held March 8 as part of the 2023 Annual FEO Conference.
The Town credits the success of the Holiday Market to StateView Homes, which was a Presenting Sponsor, and telMAX, which was a Diamond Sponsor and Holiday Tree sponsor. Stouffville also received a $900,000 from the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). It put about $27,000 of that funding to the event.
“Thank you to FEO for recognizing Stouffville’s commitment to bringing engaging events to our residents and visitors,” says Director of Leisure and Community Services Sunny Bains. “The contributions from our sponsors and partners allow us to continue to elevate our events and programming and we look forward to delivering an award-winning program of events in 2023 for Stouffville.”
Photo of The Stouffville Holiday Market courtesy of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.
