Without volunteers to replace organizers, 2 Manitoba holiday events could become ghosts of Christmas past

Retiring organizers of Christmas holiday events that have been long-standing staples in two rural Manitoba communities say they could come to an end if no one volunteers to take the reins.

After leading Brandon Santa Parade preparations for over 20 years, Karlheinz Sawatzky-Dyck says both he and his fellow committee co-chair will retire after this year's event — but it's not clear who will replace them.

Although the southwestern Manitoba city's Christmas spirit has kept them coming back for more, Sawatzky-Dyck says it's time for someone else to run the event.

"This is time to go — time to try something else. We had fun and it's great, and we've made a few changes to the parade over the years so that it just runs a little bit smoother," he told host Marjorie Dowhos in a Thursday interview with CBC's Radio Noon.

"If no one else wants to do it, then I guess Brandon won't have a Santa parade anymore."

A few people have expressed interest in organizing the parade, but Sawatzky-Dyck says there haven't been any concrete commitments, leaving the future of the 30-year-old event up in the air.

"Lots of people come out and watch it, and there's lots of floats that come," he said, including many longtime participants.

"They spend a lot of money on these floats, and they have seen the same thing I have, and I think that's why they come back, too, year after year."

While becoming a committee planner does require a bit of work, Sawatzky-Dyck says it doesn't take a special degree or an extensive event planning resumé — just a little experience.

Altona Christmas dinner cancelled

The issue seems to affect more than just celebration events. Crystal Duchesne, who previously ran the Swan Valley Christmas Cheer Board, confirmed to CBC News that the program will not operate this year after a search for new organizers was unsuccessful.

A Christmas dinner in Altona has also been cancelled this year, after no one stepped up to replace the retiring organizers of the southern Manitoba town's holiday tradition.

Angelika Stoesz, who has helped run the dinner for 35 years, says she and her husband have been "incredibly honoured" to do so, but "it was just time to step back" and be home on Christmas Day.

"We had fun, but we're also not getting any younger," Stoesz told Radio Noon on Wednesday.

The Altona Christmas dinner began as a small event at a local restaurant, before organizers asked the Altona United Church to take it over, she said.

Last year, the dinner served 300 people from all walks of life, including families on low income and seniors with no family, said Stoesz.

LISTEN | Christmas dinner in Altona needs new organizers:

As with the Brandon Santa Parade, potential organizers for the Altona dinner have expressed interest, but there haven't been any commitments — and it could also become history if that doesn't change.

"We've planted the seed," said Stoesz. "My true hope is that by next year, someone will step forward."

Her advice to people interested in organizing such events, but who haven't made the leap yet, is to trust their instincts.

"Let people know you're wanting to do it, and I'm sure the help will be there," she said.