{"id":89404,"date":"2022-11-30T05:30:52","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T03:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/gordons-bay-traditional-festive-start-up-20221130-3\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T06:07:51","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T04:07:51","slug":"gordons-bay-traditional-festive-start-up-20221130-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/gordons-bay-traditional-festive-start-up-20221130-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Gordon’s Bay: Traditional festive start-up"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The first-ever festive market will be hosted at the Old Harbour in Gordon\u2019s Bay next Wednesday (7 December). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event will also mark the first Carols by Candlelight event presented by the Navy Band in a few years. The festivities are being driven by Strand Rotary Club. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter the success of the Heritage Day Festival, the Harbour Users\u2019 Committee was keen to host another market,\u201d explained Jana Loubser, commodore of Gordon\u2019s Bay Yacht Club. \u201cThe Strand Rotary Club, which meets at the yacht club, immediately offered to drive the event and all takings will be used to fund projects in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It promises to be an amazing evening with the highlight being the procession from the market to the naval base for the carol service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The community will have the opportunity to witness some of the formalities that usually happen \u201cbehind closed doors\u201d. The first will be a \u201csilent sunset\u201d, leading to the lowering of the flag and then a march-off to the carol service. Singing will be led by two vocalists and the current intake of students, accompanied by 45 Navy Band members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loubser added: \u201cEveryone is welcome, and families are really encouraged to join the festivities. There will be something special for everyone, especially for the children. Ho Ho Ho!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The harbour market will run from 16:30 so that \u201ccarollers\u201d can either have a bite, drink and quick shop before attending the carol service or pop in after the service. It will be open until 22:30, so people can choose to spend the whole evening at the market, the yacht club or Thirsty Oyster and possibly hear the singing drifting across from the Naval College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll proceeds from the evening \u2013 parking and stall-holders\u2019 fees \u2013 will be used for projects in the local community\u201d, added Elenore Baiocchi, president of Strand Rotary Club. \u201cGoing into the festive season, the organisations we work with need all the support they can get. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur focus as a club is on the youth, and this is a time when, unfortunately, crime against children increases. It\u2019s also a time when children in foster care or the people caring for them need assistance. Between the market takings and our \u2018In The Bag\u2019 collection at the yacht club, we\u2019ll be doing what we can to make the festive season as happy as possible for everyone.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The yacht club is a primary partner in the market event and is also a collection point for bags of goodies which should include toiletries, stationery, non-perishable foodstuff and soft toys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n