WESTLOCK - The Christmas Light Up parade is set to happen this year, although with a new format that has the floats parked and viewers parading.
The organizing committee has been looking for ways to still hold the event, said representative Benita Pedersen, and after consultations with the Town of Westlock, they landed on the reverse parade idea.
“This year, there’s so much we can’t have. We can’t have family dances like we used to. We might not even be able to have kids sitting on Santa’s knee, telling him what they want for Christmas, I’m seeing that as unlikely,” Pedersen told council at an Oct. 19 committee of the whole meeting.
They’re holding the reverse parade on 107 Street. Floats will be parked along the route starting at 5 p.m., and parade watchers can start driving (or walking) by at 6 p.m. from Highway 18 heading east down 107 St.
The reversal was mayor Ralph Leriger’s idea, who called it a Candy Cane Lane version of the parade. Pedersen’s original intentions were to hold a normal parade but park the cars on the same route.
Except councillors saw some logistical issues with a moving parade because, as Leriger estimated, about 1,500 to 2,000 people go every year normally.
“You put four in a vehicle, that’s 500 vehicles. I don’t know that we have anywhere near the room for that and certainly the time it would take to marshal and park.” Plus, there wouldn’t be any bathroom access.
But, Leriger added, “I really applaud you for looking for a logistical way to make this happen.”
Pedersen will be working with town admin and peace officers to prep the event. She’s also asking for one of the large spruce trees that will be cut down from the Westlock Cemetery to be placed downtown and decorated.
“Administratively, we’re definitely open to continuing our partnership with the Light Up Committee,” said CAO Simone Wiley before suggesting the town could add more and better lighting wherever the parade takes place.
Chamber takes on tree auction
The Westlock & District Chamber of Commerce is kicking off a Christmas tree auction that same day, picking up an old Family and Community Support Services tradition.
“Businesses will have the opportunity to purchase a tree and decorate it in whatever way they would like and then those trees will ultimately be auctioned off on a digital platform … with basically the vast majority of the proceeds going to (FCSS) and the balance would be set aside for COVID relief measures and initiatives,” said president Graeme Harrington at a chamber meeting Oct. 22.
Chamber secretary Brandi Wolff added that participating businesses should send photos of the trees by Nov. 18 so they can make it onto the auction website, and Pedersen suggested the trees go up on the floats as well.
On Friday, Pedersen said that a number of floats have already been confirmed for the parade.
Andreea Resmerita, TownandCountryToday.com
