The Festival of Northern Lights in Owen Sound starts this coming weekend.
The volunteer designed and organized festival lights up downtown Owen Sound and Harrison Park for the Christmas season into mid-January each year.
Festival Chair Jamie Walpole says there are some new displays this year, including a Chi-Cheemaun display.
Walpole says the lights will be switched on Saturday, November 15th after the Kiwanis Owen Sound Santa Claus Parade with an official lighting at 7 p.m. Starting at 6, there will be hot chocolate and cookies by by the farmer’s market ahead of the lighting.
Walpole invites everyone to join them in the countdown to light the displays and tree.
There will be lights thought the downtown and Harrison Park.
“In the park we have a variety of displays. Actually an equal number of displays, maybe more displays down at the park than there is downtown. There’s the infinity tunnel, which is a drive through experience and you can walk through it as well. We have a walking path as well though the campground,” says Walpole.
He says, “We encourage people to go on down to the park, find a parking spot and then just walk through the displays. There’s lots to see and do.”
Meanwhile, the festival has seen some setbacks this year. Before the displays can even get plugged in, there has been vandalism. Walpole says a Santa Claus motorcycle display has been damaged, with Santa’s boots removed, he was ripped from his motorcycle and his helmet torn off. He says the Grinch’s sled which is meant as a photo prop had the front kicked off of it, and the Timbit snowmen by the 9th Street Bridge were pushed over and their arms were broken off. “A few other things, but those are some of the examples,” says Walpole.
“We’ve been busy repairing what’s been vandalized and we should be good to go,” says Walpole who confirms the festival’s displays are designed, created and maintained by volunteers. The displays are supported by donations and sponsors.
“It’s a completely volunteer based organization,” says Walpole who adds, “What’s tough is the cost of repairing some of the items comes out of our new display budget.”
He adds, “Every cent from our sponsors and donations goes right back into the displays.”
He says Fairmount Security Service has said it will try to keep an eye on the displays to prevent more damage.
“We just do the best we can,” says Walpole who notes for many years it wasn’t a problem, just in the past couple of years.
“The community is so supportive. We greatly appreciate all the support,” says Walpole.
The festival has been going since 1987.