Glowing at 25

Celebrate 25 years of Airdrie Festival of Lights by getting your glow on

BY STACIE GAETZ

The Airdrie Festival of Lights (AFOL) has been spreading holiday cheer for 25 years.

Located in Nose Creek Park, AFOL is a beautiful, month-long, outdoor walk-through lights experience, with about a million dollars’ worth of displays and other events, including Santa visits, real reindeer, a gift shop, choirs, a concession and so much more.

“The Airdrie Festival of Lights has always been committed to providing an affordable, family friendly Christmas festival of lights experience for the people of Airdrie and southern Alberta, which is suitable for all ages,” says MIchelle Pirzek, AFOL co-ordinator.

“At the same time, [it provides] a venue in which other non-profit organizations can raise funds for their activities.”

The first spark

In October of 1996, Airdrie Ald. Stan Softley unveiled his vision to transform Nose Creek Park into a Christmas light display like no other. Needing an initial investment from community members of $70,000 for the overall $250,000 project, Softley and festival organizers set in motion an event designed to ‘put Airdrie on the map.’

Softley believed that establishing a permanent festival of lights display would be a “boon to the city’s fortunes, both in terms of economics and community prestige.”

He wanted the festival to become an annual tradition for everyone and it worked.

“That’s why our theme for the 25th anniversary is family tradition,” says Pirzek, who has been on the AFOL board for 14 years.

“We have immense pride that we have been able to keep the mandate of the original idea behind the festival. All of our prices for things like the train and hot chocolate are even the same as they were all those years ago.

“People need something to celebrate now more than ever and as always, we are here to give that to them”

THE CITY OF AIRDRIE CONGRATULATES THE AIRDRIE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS ON 25 YEARS

OF LIGHTING UP OUR COMMUNITY! Congratulations on 25 years of lighting up our community!

“This year has been so difficult for so many economically and we want people to know that they can come and make incredible family memories without a penny in their pocket.”

Brighten up

AFOL attracts more than 65,000 visitors to Airdrie every holiday season and includes about 1,000 light displays. Like years past, AFOL will include the miniature trains for $2 per ride, which carry the whole family around the paths, as well as a concession where you can savour that cup of hot chocolate, coffee or apple cider for only $2 per cup. Another returning attraction is Santa’s Gift Shop, located right beside the large Nose Creek Valley Poinsettia Arch. You’ll find high-quality Museum is celebrating and whimsical gifts for yourself, your fam ily and your friends. “We’ve even got the kids covered with our unique kids-only shopping experiwith an AFOL exhibit! The first 250 visitors to the Share your glowing memories museum starting Dec. 1 ence with no adults allowed!” says Pirzek. receive a free train ride ticket! “Our elves will help your little ones in our unique shopping section that is full of

WIN AN IPAD!

airdrielife invites you to share your memories of 25 years of the Airdrie Festival of Lights.

Send us your stories and/or photos from the past or your new memories made at the 25th anniversary celebration in Nose Creek Park Dec 1 - 31, 2020.

We will compile and share throughout December and draw Jan 15 for one lucky winner to receive a brand new ipad! Enter online at airdrielife.com before Jan 5, 2021. See complete contest rules online.

locally sourced handmade, home-based gifts. All items in this section are $10 and under keeping it affordable for your kids’ budgets.”

There will also be at least one new feature this year – ice carving.

“I have had ice carving on my bucket list since I became involved with the organization,” says Pirzek.

She adds that the details are still being worked out, but she hopes to have four carvers on site for two of the days in December with the opportunity for visitors to see the works being created and enjoy them after they are completed.

Can’t glow without you

In 2019, organizers of the festival recorded more than 3,000 volunteer hours from Nov. 15 to Jan. 15 alone, with approximately 700 hours accumulated by fundraising groups, and another 400 hours accumulated by local businesses and organizations.

Pirzek says she is hoping to have between 300 and 500 volunteers at the event this year as there are new COVID-19 restrictions that will need to be implemented and politely enforced.

“We will of course be encouraging social distancing, monitoring lineups, rotating the trains so we can disinfect them, but it will be 90 per cent business as usual,” says Pirzek.

“Things might look a little different, but the spirit will still be there. People need something to celebrate now more than ever and as always, we are here to give that to them.”

The event will not include mascots this year due to Alberta Health Services guidelines.

Don’t worry, the Man in Red will still make an appearance (STACIE TO CONTACT MICHELLE CLOSER TO LAY OUT DAY TO DETERMINE IF THERE WILL BE A VIRTUAL SANTA) and his reindeer will attend on Dec. 22.

Entry is by donation only. Over the years, the festival has donated more than $375,000 back into the community to organizations such as Community Links, Lioness Club, local school groups, Airdrie Food Bank, Airdrie and District Victims Assistance Society and many more organizations. life

For more detailed information and AFOL schedules, visit airdrielights.com or check out the fold-out map included in this issue of airdrielife

PARADE OF LIGHTS

The AFOLS are looking to make the 25th Season simply GLOWing, by lighting up as much of Airdrie as possible. Those wishing to participate will be required to register online in advance, to be added to the online map.

Those who register before November 15, will receive a sign for their house announcing their participation, as well as an entry for a GLOWing Prize! This isn’t a competition for best decorated, because we believe every light that’s lit contributes to our overall GLOW!

Be sure to take a photo, and post on the AFOL social media platforms using #ShareTheGlow for an extra entry. #ShareTheGlow