Fredericton’s art, music & community ambassadors celebrate 10 years with holiday market and party.
Matt Carter
It’s hard to believe Feels Good is turning 10. And it’s equally hard to imagine a summer season without Folly Fest, or seeing the Feels Good name pop up throughout the year in support of various arts and charity initiatives.
These loveable hippies have certainly made a significant impact on the province over the last decade and continue to set the bar high.
The coming weeks will bring two holiday themed Feels Good events to Fredericton starting on Saturday December 16 with a holiday market at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre.
“The Christmas market is going to be something completely different for us,” said Feels Good’s Stephen Lewis. “We’ve done holiday markets in the past but never on this scale.”
Setup in a downtown apartment living room with a few vendors selling handmade gifts and local musicians providing entertainment, early Feels Good holiday markets took on the welcoming look and feel of a house concert. But oh how they’ve grown.
This year’s curated holiday market will host upwards of 30 vendors from around the region selling everything from handmade pottery and clothing to treats and snacks and homemade kombucha. Graystone Brewing will also be on hand to help ease the holiday shopping experience.
“We put out a call for submissions to friends and local artists and received over 60 responses,” said Lewis. “We originally thought this year would simply be an upgrade on the venue but with this response, it’s really become a major Christmas market for the community. It’s going to be great.”
And of course, no Feels Good event would be complete without some live music.
“The Montgomery Street Band will be playing an unplugged set beginning at 12:30 p.m.,” said Lewis. “There’ll be some bluegrass, and probably a holiday tune or two. You can grab a Graystone, enjoy the music and check out all the vendors.”
The 10th Annual Feels Good Xmas Party will take place the following night, December 17, at Wilser’s Room in The Capital Complex.
“The Christmas Party is always the party of parties,” said Lewis. “The first 50 people in the venue get $5 off their cover, a Folly Fest/Feels Good surprise bag, plus they get their name entered into a draw to win two Folly Fest 2018 passes.”
The evening’s entertainment lineup includes more than 15 performers including The Hypochondriacs, Some Dads, Jerry Faye, The Brood and others. And there will no doubt be a few musical surprises as the night progresses.
The Annual Feels Good Xmas Party is the first in a series of 10 year anniversary events and promotions planned for the year to come.
“We’ll be rolling out a lot of special announcements for the Feels Good ten year anniversary,” said Lewis. “Stay tuned for more on that in the new year.”
Feels Good Xmas Market | December 16 | Charlotte Street Arts Centre | 12-5 p.m. | View Event
Feels Good 10th Annual Xmas Party | December 17 | Wilser’s Room | 7:30 p.m. – 2 a.m. | View Event
Feels Good | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
