The lights strung, the decorations are up, and spirits are high as Ladysmith prepares for the 32nd annual Light Up Festival of Lights tonight.
At Oyster Harbour Seniors Community, Light Up is a chance for residents to participate in the community they helped build. Residents will join the Light Up parade in the Oyster Harbour shuttle bus decorated by Roy Mckee and Janet Gray.
Phillis Timothy, Wilma Ostle, Kay Rozzano, and Ralph Carlson have lived in Ladysmith their entire lives. Each of them remembers the first Light Up, 32 years ago.
B次元官网网址淲e saw it all get started, then eventually they came from all over B次元官网网址� bus loads B次元官网网址� and theyB次元官网网址檙e still coming,B次元官网网址� Timothy said.
Rozzano said there were around 300 - 500 people at the first Light Up. Last yearB次元官网网址檚 Light Up saw over close to 30,000 people according to RCMP estimates.
B次元官网网址淭hey said they have to cut the parade down this year, because thereB次元官网网址檚 too many floats wanting to come in,B次元官网网址� Rozzano said.
Collectively, the group estimated about 10 floats were in the first parade. They remember floats from Ladysmith service clubs like the Kinsmen, the Eagles, the Healthcare Auxiliary, the Native Daughters, and Ladysmith Fire Rescue.
This will be Oyster HarbourB次元官网网址檚 third year in the Light Up parade, and theyB次元官网网址檙e just as excited as they were the first time.
B次元官网网址淏y the time we got down to the Wigwam I was ready to run up and kiss Santa Claus I was so excited,B次元官网网址� Carlson said.
Each of the residents shared their favourite thing about Light Up.
B次元官网网址淥h gosh, thatB次元官网网址檚 pretty hard to say, because itB次元官网网址檚 all wonderful,B次元官网网址� Timothy said. B次元官网网址淎ll the people, and all that. To see all the busloads coming in, itB次元官网网址檚 pretty exciting.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淏eing on the bus, and waving to the people outside. We were all together, singing on the bus, doing things like that. ItB次元官网网址檚 a happy time,B次元官网网址� Ostle said.
B次元官网网址淓verybodyB次元官网网址檚 in a happy mood. All the kids wave for Santa. All your worries and troubles go out the window,B次元官网网址� Rozzano said.
B次元官网网址淚 like being in the parade. IB次元官网网址檝e been doing it for over 30 years. I used to cook at the Eagles, we ended up with 500-600 spaghetti dinners a night. A lot of dishes I tell yahB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� Carlson said.
The group expressed gratitude for all the people who have come together over the years to make Light Up happen, both in the past, and today. They look forward to taking part in this yearB次元官网网址檚 Light Up parade, and hope to see many smiling faces lining 1st Avenue.
B次元官网网址淕etting to be in this parade, to play with purpose, and getting to remember the past, and getting to be part of the now B次元官网网址� getting to be a part of the community they created is pretty incredible,B次元官网网址� Oyster Harbour recreation coordinator Angelina Passarelly said.
Ladysmith light-up need-to-knows
LadysmithB次元官网网址檚 famous Festival of Lights B次元官网网址� the IslandB次元官网网址檚 biggest Christmas light-up B次元官网网址� happens tonight, Thursday, Nov. 28.
It starts with a community spaghetti dinner at 3 p.m. at the Eagles Hall ($10 adults and kids under eight, $5), thereB次元官网网址檚 a Christmas craft fair at the Aggie Hall at 4 p.m. and street entertainment and food concessions open and onstage entertainment will continue until 6:15 p.m.
Then the place goes crazy as everyone gets into position along First Avenue downtown to welcome Santa Claus, who shows up at 6:30 p.m. to light up downtown. Following that, thereB次元官网网址檚 a light-up parade starting at 6:45 p.m.
After the parade, at Aggie Hall, thereB次元官网网址檚 the light-up at the hall, Bob Stuart Park, and the Chuck Perrin Christmas Tree, along with spectacular fireworks.
First Avenue will be closed to traffic from 3 p.m. until after the light-up. Organizers ask that people please do not bring pets downtown for the light-up.
This is a hugely popular event, so unless you plan to arrive really early, be ready to walk some distance from your car to get to your viewing spot.
