Largest attendance to date at 10th annual Christmas park
By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor
Doug Taylor Photo
With temperatures on the plus side, over 3,000 patrons were estimated to have attended the popular Light up the Night event at the Strathmore agricultural grounds on Nov. 25, following Strathmore’s Santa Claus Parade.
With 20 volunteers ensuring the event’s success, the park also offered two choirs – the Ecole Brentwood Elementary School junior choir, and the Strathmore Senior Choir – Backstreet Productions as DJ, and Santa’s cottage on the east side of the parking lot where people relaxed with cookies and hot chocolate. Because of long lines and high attendance this year, Mr. and Mrs. Claus stayed the latest to date – 9:15 p.m.
“It went probably better than any year we’ve had,” said Rose Hamrlik, chair of the Strathmore Lion’s Celebration of Lights Christmas Park.
“We looked at probably two-and-a-half hours of vehicles coming into the grounds. Overall it went very smoothly, I just found it a lot busier than usual. But this year and last year were our biggest crowds.”
New to the grounds was a 50-foot-high Christmas tree that was placed with the help of Fortis Alberta and a new set of reindeer statues that greeted attendees – a necessary purchase that followed last year’s vandalism.
The Strathmore Lion’s Club was also seen back behind the grill preparing their annual charity barbecue, while Hammerhill Stables and the Steward Family provided sleigh rides.
The night’s popularity also proved itself in facts, as the barbeque brought in $1,577.90, the donation box collected $464.30, the raffle raised a whopping $1,762, while the total surpassed last year’s total at $3,804 – $1,400 more than in 2016.
Despite positive feedback and a large turnout, event organizers managed to pull off the attraction with only five to eight volunteers a day, the help of 25 Wheatland King players one weekend, and Gray’s Limited clearing away snow, after battling several snow storms and strong winds.
“We had some volunteers that had some issues that didn’t allow them to do as much as in the past, so it was a bit of strain but we got through,” said Dennis McNeill, president of the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society.
“It was busier than it has been for a long time, one of our better crowds. I think the weather contributed and I think popularity. People are hearing about it and we had a lot of comments ahead of time.”
McNeill added that more attractions are being introduced to the park over the coming weeks, including a small home that was donated to the cause, which will be decorated in Christmas lights and placed on a trailer for display.
The Strathmore Lion’s Celebration of Lights Christmas Park will remain open until Jan. 13, 2018. The Family New Year’s Party will take place on Dec. 31 at the Livestock Pavillion from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tickets are $5 per family. Photos with Santa is also scheduled for Dec. 24 at the Castle on the ag grounds from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Families will need to bring their own cameras.