Downtown Bolton supports local at this year’s Christmas in the Valley

December 11, 2025 · 0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Christmas in the Valley 2025, run by the Downtown Bolton BIA, celebrated Bolton and all it has to offer this past Friday.

The event included a vendor and artisan market, food trucks, a Christmas tree lighting, and special visits from Santa and the Grinch.

But the one aspect that shone through this year was the community’s support for one another.

Whether through food, toy, and clothing donations or by supporting local businesses, Christmas in the Valley was a prime example of supporting local this season.

In exchange for free photos with Santa at the event, as in previous years, the Humberview Huskies Football team was collecting unwrapped toys and non-perishable food donations for their food and toy drive.

Chris Tinkler, Defensive Line Coach for Humberview, shared that the community’s response had been “fantastic” and that they were receiving more donations than the previous year.

“People are really coming out and being generous,” says Tinkler.

Adrian Piscitelli, Head Coach of the Humberview Huskies football team, said the team collected more than 270 pounds of food, as well as a car full of toys, which will go directly to helping those in need in the Caledon community.

In light of the giving spirit, Renewed Hope was also at Christmas in the Valley with their Relief Vehicle. Inside were racks of warm clothes and shoes.

Renewed Hope is a volunteer-run nationwide charity and nonprofit that works to deliver essential services, support, and resources to communities in need.

Tim with Renewed Hope shared that halfway through the night, they had already helped serve more than 60 people.

“We’re about helping people get back on their feet,” said Tim.

With their relief vehicles, they hope to expand their reach and help more people in the community.

Mayor Annette Groves noted the amount of work put into the event by community volunteers.

“This event is made possible with the volunteers from the Downtown Bolton BIA, as well as the BCC, the Bolton Community Crew volunteers,” said Groves. “It’s nice to see so many people out here enjoying the vendors, and the food vendors that are here. It’s just a wonderful time of year.”

Groves noted the effort to support local at this year’s event.

“A lot of our vendors, they’re having some challenges, as so many people are having challenges, and it’s great that the community is here to support them. The Town is always behind them, supporting them, making sure they have what they need, and taking them through some of these hard times,” said Groves.

One vendor was Bolton local Keely Masson, owner of Keely’s Croch’eh! Creations, who was sharing her booth with her friend and vendor Carolyn Dawe, who was selling Scandinavian mittens and dolls.

Keely’s Croch’eh! Creations featured handmade crochet creations such as blankets, shawls, dinosaurs, cats, and other fun furry friends.

Masson grew up in Bolton and shared that being able to sell her items back in her own community is “amazing.”

“I love how the people of Bolton support local businesses. They hear that you’re doing it hand-made, and people are very receptive and care a lot about that kind of thing,” she said.

Masson was a vendor at previous years’ Christmas in the Valley and shared that she was thrilled with last year’s event.

“When [Dawe] said she was doing it again this year, I’m like, sign me up!”

As a crowd gathered around the Humber River Centre, Sarah Leslie, Downtown Bolton BIA’s event coordinator, lit the tree following remarks from Caledon Council and the Town Crier’s traditional verse of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

As the lights were lit and the marching band began to play, all eyes turned back to one of the main attractions, the free family photos with Santa, where the line spanned the inside of the Humber River Centre and out the front door.

After families had their photos taken, they were invited to stay inside and participate in crafts, such as making homemade reindeer food.

Caledon resident Kamla Rajkumar was enjoying the warmth inside with her family, and taking in all that the event had to offer.

Rajkumar shared her daughter was the one who told them about Christmas in the Valley after learning about it at school.

She said it turned out to be a beautiful event and a great way for the three of them to spend their Friday night.

Especially, she noted, “seeing the community come together.”

Smells of kettle corn and hot chocolate filled the air as Caledon residents soaked up all that Christmas in the Valley had to offer, marking another successful year in the books.