A chilly Saturday night didn't stop hundreds of Kelowna residents from attending the Downtown Kelowna Association's (DKA) Stuart Park Light-Up.
The day's events started at 12 p.m. with the Winter Market which took over Water Street and ran until 6 p.m. Food vendors, local businesses and non-profit organizations lined the street for people to check out and enjoy. Included in this was a 'warm-up station' from BCLC and hot chocolate available by donation, with all funds going to the Central Okanagan Food Bank.
People who signed up got to get photos with Santa and live music took the Stuart Park main stage. Additionally, just in time for the event, the skating rink opened at the park as well.
Just before 5 p.m., DKA executive director Mark Burley addressed the audience before handing the microphone off to Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas. He was there in attendance with fellow council members Loyal Wooldridge, Maxine DeHart, Gord Lovegrove and Ron Cannon and Federal MP Tracy Gray.
After speaking, Santa said a few words and then it was show-time, as Dyas pulled the lever to light up the Stuart Park tree, illuminating the downtown sky.
Live music continued until 6 p.m.
Many more light-ups and Christmas events are scheduled in the Central Okanagan:
- Rutland Light-Up - Sunday, Dec. 1, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Rutland Centennial Park;
- Lake Country Christmas Light-Up - Saturday, Dec. 7, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Cenotaph Park;
- Parade with a Purpose on Bernard Avenue - Saturday, Dec. 14.
