An annual holiday tradition will be making spirits bright very soon in Williams Lake.
The 25th Yuletide Dinner put on by the Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre and the ST Vincent De Paul Society will take place this Wednesday (December 7) from 4 to 7 at the Sacred Heart Hall.
Executive Director of the CDC, Vanessa Riplinger, said everyone is excited to have this event back after having to cancel it last year due to COVID.
She added that just like in years past, it’s a full-on feast.
“Turkey and gravy, potatoes and stuffing, and dessert. A traditional Yuletide turkey dinner. It’s something that I think everybody deserves and we’re really excited to be able to do that, so if people are lean on company or lean on funds, come and join us. It’s a really beautiful event.”
Riplinger noted that a group of volunteers from St Vincent De Paul Society cooks the turkey dinner and another group shows up every year to serve it.
And the turkey is just part of the event.
“We have a Santa for the kids, and we give out some stockings and we have some amazing homemade stockings that a group of ladies makes for us every year that we stuff full of things for kids and teens.” Riplinger said, “It’s a really joyful Christmas event.”
The last time they were able to have this Yuletide dinner Riplinger noted that approximately 620 dinners were served.
The largest in the 25 years of putting it on was when it was held downstairs at the Overlander Hotel where they served 900.