Hope’s first visit from Krampus successfully raised $1,019.65 for the 2025 Concerts in the Park (CitP).
“I’m overjoyed,” said Andy Woodford, the owner of Mighty Fraser Barber Company (MFBC). He dressed up as the Krampus. “I think this was very successful. So many people came out to it and we were able to show a bit of solidarity among the shops.”
A steady stream of people visited the Mighty Fraser location on Dec. 21, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., to donate and get their picture taken with the Krampus. All photography for the evening was done by Kat Harvey, a photographer from Hope who runs the Into the Wild Boudoir studio.
Attendees were also able to visit some of the downtown shops during the three hours, who stayed open late as a form of “camaraderie” with each other. This included Kerfuffle Creations, Lucky Dollar Plus Store, Lindy’s, and Stratus.
The event was a fundraiser for the 2025 Concerts in the Park, an annual summertime event that takes place every Friday in the months of July and August. It was also a way for locals who prefer being weird or spooky to enjoy holiday season, while also paying homage to some older Christmas traditions.
The Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic goat figure from Central and Eastern Alpine folk tales and traditions. In its mythology, the creature visits children with Saint Nicholas on Dec. 5, which is the night before the traditional Feast of St.Nicholas, and punishes misbehaving or naughty children.
Krampus, who is sometimes known as Saint Nicholas’s helper, ensures that the saint does not lose his “goodness” by punishing others.
Due to the success of the event, Woodford said he hopes to collaborate with other shops and groups. Currently, Woodford is looking to see how he can work with Ryan Smith, who has been organizing cleanups in the Skagit area.
Additionally, Woodford said he is already trying to plan something for the Halloween season.
“It’s an honour to be part of this community,” Woodford said. “I’m going to do my best to (make it even better) and hopefully encourage others to embrace their creative side.”
