Light Up Black Diamond is Dec. 7, and while that town is the headliner, Turner Valley has a positive supportive role.
“This is a huge event for the Black Diamond community,” said Kelly Tuck, Black Diamond special events co-ordinator. “We start off though with a market at the Flare n’ Derrick (in Turner Valley) which is put on by the High Country SPCA. Then at 5 p.m. people start coming to Black Diamond for Light Up.”
The High Country SPCA market runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monique LeBlanc, Turner Valley community services and business development danager, said the community west of Black Diamond, benefits from Light Up.
“Absolutely, anything we can do collaboratively with Black Diamond benefits both communities,” LeBlanc said. “The events are co-ordinated separately, however, the promotion is worked on together. So we ensure that we are promoting each others events.
“That way we can encourage people to visit Turner Valley and visit the Market and then make their way to Light Up.
“We are definitely supportive of that.”
She said both events in Black Diamond and Turner Valley are well attended.
The festivities in Black Diamond include Santa, who will give his reindeer a rest, getting a ride in a firetruck to set up shop for photos with youngsters at around 5 p.m at the Griffith Seniors Centre.
There will be up-and-coming photographers helping Santa. Members of the Oilfields High School photography program will take those keepsake photos of your loved ones sitting on St. Nick’s knee.
Youth and community volunteers will walk the busy sidewalks of Black Diamond just three weeks from Santa’s big day.
“We have three hay wagons that will be running throughout the evening until 9 p.m.,” Tuck said. “The boy scouts are selling hot chocolate, the skating club is selling 50-50 this year and our business community is definitely engaged…
“It (Light Up) does speak to our businesses being opened, being engaged – there are tons of businesses doing giveaways, hot chocolate, cider… We’re excited.”
Black Diamond Pharmasave will once again be decking its halls in preparation for one of its busiest nights of the year.
“There are three of four days of the year that the community really comes together and Light Up has been strong ever since we came into business and that was 12 years ago,” said Black Diamond Pharmasave’s Jason Spicer, which offers a large assortment of Christmas materials from gloves to toys. “We participate, we usually have cotton candy and we help with the Santa photos. We always offer deals.
“We’re a big store and it’s a good place for people to warm up on those cold Light Up nights.
He said events such as the parade day and the music festival – as well as – Light Up is good for community and businesses in the Black Diamond area.
“Anything that help gets the people out to mingle with the business people and mingle with themselves, we definitely support,” Spicer said.
He said during Light Up, he supports having his staff taking a break and going out to support the other businesses in the community.
The lighting of the Christmas tree is at 5:30 p.m. at the Black Diamond municipal office.
