Iris Guo moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake earlier this year and says she loves the people, the scenery and class of the town.

There was no better place to experience all of those things last Saturday than at the Grace United Church Christmas Market.

“I’ve got to get some of the bakery stuff,” Guo said as she scanned the items for sale at the market.

She moved to NOTL from Niagara Falls and spared no time becoming a member of Grace United Church.

“It’s beautiful here. Quiet, the people are nice. People are so polite to each other,” she said.

Guo walked away with a box full of baked treats from the market.

Linda Pequegnhe was searching row by row for a specific flavour of jam. “I’m looking for something like gooseberry,” she said.

She found it, but it wasn’t for herself.

“This is where I get my Christmas gifts. My parents are older, they’re in their 90s. So, what do you get them? You get them jam.”

Joyce Brown said the market was a much-needed reprieve from cloistered COVID life.

“It was not fun,” she said.

She said she has been getting into the Christmas spirit but it has some sad overtones for her this season.

Earlier this year, a close friend died from COVID-19.

“She was in the hospital for something else and that’s where she got it,” Brown said.

Brown and her friend were frequent participants in the Santa Claus parade, marching with the float for Grace United Church.

“It’s going to be very sad this year,” she said.

She said the parade will have special significance for her this year and is happy the town is hosting it, though she looks forward to its return to the original format.