Downtown Okotoks will be aglow for one night with businesses, trees and parks lit up from Southridge Drive to Lineham Avenue. The Town of Okotoks is preparing its annual Light Up event featuring wagon rides, crafts, late night shopping, fireworks, charity fundraisers and dozens of vendors Nov. 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. “It turns downtown into this magical wonderland of Christmas,” said Mark Doherty, community events specialist. “It’s a popular event and there’s a lot of reasons for that. It’s a huge attraction and obviously one of the bigger events for families and children.” Doherty said the event kicks off the holiday season with a visit from Santa Claus at the plaza at 6:50 p.m. and the lighting of the tree at Olde Towne Okotoks Plaza at 7 p.m. Among the activities at the east side of downtown are a Sugar Shack where people can roll maple syrup in snow, ice sculptures in front of the municipal building and four teams of horse-drawn wagons taking passengers for a tour along Elizabeth Street between Southridge Drive and the Elks Hall. The Okotoks Public Library will serve chocolate milk and cookies, kick off its toy drive for the Salvation Army and host an old-fashioned Christmas party from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with crafts and games from the past. Further east, Triangle Park will feature a flaming fountain, people can view five brightly-decorated floats between the park and museum and the Okotoks Art Gallery is hosting a gingerbread house-making contest. Similar to last year, firepits will be placed on sidewalks throughout the festival and entertainers will converge at the plaza to keep visitors in the festival spirit throughout the evening. Food will be in abundance with food trucks, a free s’mores station and treats and hot chocolate at various businesses and vendors, said Doherty. “Most businesses will have their doors open and welcome people in and hold activities as well like crafts for the kids, cookie decorating and snacks and hot chocolate that’s all free,” he said. “There’s hot chocolate and free giveaways everywhere.” The opportunity to donate to charities will be plenty throughout the evening with the Okotoks Fire Department’s barbecue, Western Wheel Cares 50/50 draw, donation of new scarves, mitts, toques and baby items at the Okotoks Art Gallery’s Tree of Warmth, Okotoks Food Bank’s 18 Wheels of Christmas, Salvation Army Kettle Campaign, and the collection of food for the Okotoks Food Bank, Veterans Food Bank and Heaven Can Wait at the Elks Lodge, where a craft sale will be held. Light Up Okotoks will end with a bang in a fireworks display at 9 p.m. Doherty said this year’s show will be bigger than ever. “We’ve had great support from our business community in terms of sponsorship this year,” he said. “You will see extra money going into the fireworks - $10,000 compared to $6,5000 in past years.” Traffic will be closed on Elizabeth Street, McRae Street and North Railway Street to Lineham Avenue from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information about Light Up Okotoks go to okotoks.ca or check out the map of events on page 32 of the Western Wheel. [yop_poll id="22"]
