Bow Island’s December Holiday of Lights was a hit

The town of Bow Island was shining with holiday spirit, coming together for their first annual Holiday of Lights recently.

Put together to create a winter event for the community to come together, said Christina Unruh with the North 40 Mile Tourism Society, the event saw great turn out and they’re already looking forward to making this a Bow Island tradition on the first Sunday of every December.

“It was quite a few people that came for the bonfire and hotdogs and the tree lighting. The parade, we just joined with another partnership,” said Unruh. “So we had multiple people help, we worked hand-in-hand. We did the tree lighting at six and then we went over to the multiplex for bonfire hot dogs and marshmallows.”

The community came together to make the event possible, said Unruh, with help from several organizations.

“FORTIS Alberta decorated our tree. They came in and they donated the lights and put them all in, and then they donated a cash donation towards the hotdogs as well,” said Unruh. “So then there was no cost for us that way. And then, and then everybody on the Tourism Board volunteered hours to make the event happen.”

The board is hoping to see the event grow in subsequent years said Unruh, and hopes for it to be similar to other communities’ holiday lighting events where local businesses and other organizations can be involved, as well as potentially including things such as snowman building and decorating competitions.

“We were very excited, and it was nice to see how many from the community came out and watched and even participated because we did have the parade, right?” said Unruh. “So there were a few vehicles in the parade, where businesses and individual households both participated. So next year, we’re hoping that’ll grow, too.