When the sun sets on Friday afternoon, downtown Okotoks will be bustling with activity as crowds browse local wares, sample sweets and admire the bright lights illuminating the streets.
Light Up Okotoks draws tens of thousands of people with horse-drawn wagon rides, entertainment, ice sculptures, roaming carolers, late-night shopping, craft shows, the arrival of Santa Claus, the lighting of the town Christmas tree and fireworks.
“The community spirit just comes alive with this event,” said community events specialist Mark Doherty, adding more than 20,000 people attended last year.
This year’s event is on Nov. 18 between 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Elizabeth, McRae and North Railway Streets will be closed to traffic up to Lineham Avenue from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
There will be many new and old activities. Doherty said. Triangle Park will feature free s’mores and a Light Up the Night Float Zone boasting parked flats decorated in Christmas themes.
At the municipal centre on Elizabeth Street the public can change the colours lighting up the municipal centre and at Landmark they can watch three 10-feet-tall Blazing Alien Lilies shoot flames into the air.
“Every year we try and do things just a little bit different and introduce some new programs and activities into the event just to keep it fresh,” said Doherty. “This is truly a community event.”
Doherty said more businesses take part in Light Up each year, often opening their doors to an evening of discounts while offering warmth by fire pits and sweets to sample, Doherty said.
“They take it upon themselves to set something up, whether it’s hot chocolate or discounts for the store,” he said. “Typically everyone is there for the event and sales that night may be minimal, but what I’m hearing is people come back because of that exposure to the store and the products they sell.”
Doherty said several merchants realize the benefits of being a part of Light Up each November.
“They realize it’s a great plus for them to be open and participate,” he said. “When talking to these merchants it’s one of their favourite events. It’s really a festive feeling. They are quite animated in spirit.”
Austen Jewellers owner Wayne Austen has made special arrangements during Light Up Okotoks. This year his staff is offering caroling, pictures with Santa Claus and a fire pit.
“It’s a big night for us, that’s for sure,” said Austen. “There’s lots of people. This is the big event before Christmas for sure.”
Any opportunity to promote the downtown shops is a good one, Austen said.
“It’s a very busy night with lots of people around,” he said. “It’s nice to see the kids out and having fun and it’s nice to see families as well.”
It’s not just merchants on Elizabeth, Elma, McRae and North Railway Streets who get involved, said Doherty.
“We reach out to that corporate community,” he said. “Without that support we couldn’t put on a show of this magnitude. Everybody pulls together.”
There will be performances at the downtown plaza throughout the evening, as well as a welcome from Mayor Bill Robertson and dignitaries at 6:45 p.m., an appearance by Santa Claus at 6:50 p.m. and the lighting of the Christmas tree at 7 p.m.
At Triangle Park there will be Candy Cane Corner with s’mores, cookie decorating and the illuminated floats.
The Okotoks Museum and Archives and Okotoks Art Gallery are offering hot chocolate and cookies, pictures with Santa, crafts, an artisan market, and a dress-up photo area.
A book sale will be held at the Okotoks Public Library, a craft sale at the Elks Hall, Christmas carols at the municipal centre and cookie decorating at MLA Wayne Anderson’s office.
Food will be in abundance throughout the evening with rolling maple sugar, food trucks and fudge and cotton candy for sale.
Those looking to support local charities throughout the evening can donate to the Okotoks Food Bank’s 18 Wheels of Christmas, Okotoks Fire Department charity barbecue, Western Wheel Cares 50/50 for local charities and the Tree of Warmth, which is accepting new winter accessories for charities at the Okotoks Art Gallery.
The event ends with fireworks at Lineham Park at 9 p.m.
For more details about Light Up Okotoks go to okotoks.ca
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