Year-round residential living community John Bayus Park hosted its annual Christmas in the Park Bazaar and Food Fair event in Cambridge on Saturday.
The event provided an opportunity for residents of the park and the greater community to come together to enjoy food, participate in a raffle draw and to buy presents for the coming Christmas season.
According to the coordinator of the event Denise, who requested her full name not be published, almost 200 people turned up for the event. The event is over a quarter of a century old, and she was happy with the turnout.
“We advertise in Hamilton, Kitchener and Cambridge, and we have people from all over at this event. This is a great community, very peaceful and beautiful,” Denise told Spoke.
There were a total of 11 vendors that had stalls at the event. From clothes to food to ornaments and décor, the organizers attempted to cater for a wide demographic.
Nancy Hayes from Christian charity PAN Mission had a stall at the event. One of the aims of PAN Mission is to provide resources and training to women in Nicaragua. Hayes was attending the event for the first time.
“We believe in giving these women a hand up not a hand out. I have been visiting Nicaragua for the past 10 years. We go down there and teach women sewing.”
Hayes further added that all the clothing items that were being sold at their table were made by Nicaraguan women. She further added that all proceeds made from this event will go back to those women.
Peter Geene was attending the event for the first time and was happy with the experience.
“The staff are very supportive, and the event has been organized very well. It is clean, orderly and relaxing. Plus the food is great,” Geene said.
Another attendee, Doug Hayes, had positive comments about the event.
“It is well supported by the residents of the campus. The people are very nice. There are plenty of items for sale and the prices are affordable,” Hayes said.
The hall at the park where the event was held is unofficially known as the John Bayus Social Club. It hosts a broad range of activities from Elvis impersonators to dance parties and karaoke nights.
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