MOOSE JAW — As Christmas in October is set to return in support of Moose Jaw’s downtown small business community and thanks to the Downtown Moose Jaw Association (DMJA), one resident and board member is proud to say that she’s witnessing the continuation of her dream.
Yvette Moore, who owns the Yvette Moore Gallery and serves on the DMJA board as director and treasurer is also personally connected with the Christmas in October project since its inception.
“I’ve been involved since day one with Christmas in October, because it basically started in my home many years ago,” Moore said. “It’s just been something that has been special to me.”
Moore purchased her current home — which is a character home steeped with history in the avenues — back in 1989. The following year, in 1990, she opened her newly established home studio for a unique project.
“I used to operate… Yvette Moore Fine Art through my house,” she confirmed. “I had done craft shows for years and I just always thought… I would love to see everybody’s beautiful work set up in a home setting.
“Because I own a character home, I just thought (that I would) … call up some of these other artisans that I’ve met over the years — the local ones especially.”
Moore then received a visit from 25 artists who brought their work to transform every usable square foot of her residence into a temporary gallery.
“It was all throughout the whole house, like every bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen… everything was decorated with everybody’s work,” she happily recalled. “It was really neat because people would come in and be looking around… and it actually went over really well.”
When she had to cancel the event in its fourth year, Moore was in for a surprise.
“All of a sudden there was a knock at the door. There were these women from Regina who remembered having come (to Moose Jaw) the previous year and thought it was on again. It had set a precedence,” she recalled.
On another year, her home-based idea saw a sizable group of people “lined up all the way down the street every which way we looked” indicating the potential for an expanded version of the project.
“So, it gave me, you know, the feeling that it was a good thing and that it was successful in my home,” she said. “So, I felt it could be successful in a business.”
The project has since developed with the goal of drawing tourists, residents, and shoppers into Moose Jaw’s downtown shops and the annual event seeks to create a wonderful atmosphere and tone for a unique and magical experience.
“And from there, it grew, and it has become what it is today.”
Christmas in October transitioned from a home-based event into today’s downtown venue back in 1999. For the next 25 years it has continued to grow and thrive, and in 2019 the newly formed DMJA helped the project grow even further with the mission of promoting and supporting Moose Jaw’s downtown business district.
“So, (Christmas in October) has just been something that has been special to me, and (it continues to) encompass so many other businesses… It’s something that just becomes the start to a season that’s pretty unique and (we’re) just trying to make it the best we can.”
Christmas in October will run from Thursday, Oct. 24 until Sunday, Oct. 27 this year among participating downtown businesses.
To reach Yvette Moore with more information on how to participate, email her at [email protected].
