By Sue Tiffin

Oftentimes after the respectful marking of Remembrance Day Canadiansbegin preparing and celebrating the festive season which will lead usall into the new year.

Those who have been organizing and hostingevents volunteering to help or just coming out for a good time to theofferings of the community will note that days have not been much slower since the summer but with just weeks left until the end of the decade why stop now?

Lights and Delights welcomes the town to celebratethe season along the main street on Nov. 15 and Ladies Night atMinden’s Home Hardware offers a chance for togetherness indoors on Nov.16.
Rest before the November weekend full of cheer that starts withthe Festival of Trees on Nov. 22 (running until Sunday when prizewinners are announced) and brings the Santa Claus Parade the MindenLegion’s Holiday Bazaar and Carolling at the Pioneer Church on Nov. 23and the Christmas Artisan Market on Nov. 24. Stop in at the Mindenlibrary that weekend for the mega book sale.

Also at the Mindenbranch of the Haliburton County Public Library a wide variety of unique happenings that will fill your calendar and give you a break fromshopping cooking or wrapping: Tech Time (an opportunity to better learn how to use technology through patient guidance) on Nov. 15;  amini-makers workshop for kids on Nov. 20; a drop-in evening craft forteens and adults on Nov. 20 and 21; and drop-in altered art craft foradults on Nov. 30; a giant Candyland board game until Nov. 23; andFestive Family story time and craft on Nov. 29.

Drop in to learnabout your ancestors with the Haliburton Highlands Genealogy Group onNovember 26 or for a ukelele jam session on Nov. 28.

For thoselooking for live music Nicholas Russell performs at Rhubarb onThursdays and Paul Mills and David Bradstreet are at the home of Donand Marie Gage on Nov. 17. At the Dominion Hotel Trina West performsNov. 16 Chris Smith on Nov. 23 and Gary and the Rough Ideas on Nov. 30.
Stop by the Agnes Jamieson Gallery or sign up for an art class with Carole Finn at the Finn Artists’ Centre happening Nov. 27. Minden Ladies Night on Nov. 28 is a fun chance to get friends together for shopping and refreshments.

The season brings with it joy for many as well as additional stress forthose struggling. Make time for clothing drives the Highlands Christmas Shindig (in Haliburton but helping to benefit our friends andneighbours) and church and service club events as well as opportunities to volunteer making food baskets or organizing at the Food Bank.
These events and more are advertised throughout this paper and online at haliburtonlibrary.ca
mindenhills.ca or myhaliburtonhighlands.com .