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Westlock Light Up continues to take shape

Organizers looking forward to Nov. 20 reverse parade
WES light up map IMG-6792
The Light Up reverse parade, slated for Nov. 20, starts at JD’s Roadhouse and continues down 107th Street.

WESTLOCK - In just over two weeks, 107th Street will be filled with parked parade floats for what will be undoubtedly be the most unique Westlock Christmas Light Up Parade ever.

Light Up organizing committee rep Benita Pedersen said plans for the event are quickly coming together for an event that almost didn’t happen due to COVID-19. Floats will be parked along the north side of the reverse parade route on 107th Street starting at around 5 to 5:30 p.m., and parade watchers can start driving by at 6 p.m. starting from Highway 18 heading east — walkers are discouraged due to COVID-19.

“The Santa float is going to here and it looks like I’m going to have bucket truck here,” said Pedersen pointing to a map of the parade route.

“In some cases floats will be in basically empty parking lots, and there’ll be floats here, here and here and I’ve got a crane coming from Boutin crane. There’s also some people doing a mini pasture with horses and donkey. So, even though it’s not a parade, parade it’ll be fun. There’s going to be lots of cool stuff to see.”

Pedersen is working with town admin and peace officers to prep the event, which wraps at 8 p.m.

“I’ve been doing some Facebook promotion trying to explain everything, but I still expect the day of the event that some people will be confused. But I’ll have volunteers at most intersections to re-direct traffic so they’ll loop around to JD’s and come in that way.”

Pedersen says there’s a number of other tentative events on the slate for the night — see more in the coming editions — and she’s also trying to figure out a safe way for kids to get a photo with Santa.

“I want to protect Santa, so we’re trying to figure that out,” she said, adding she expects an appearance by the snowman Olaf from the movie Frozen.

Anyone looking to enter a float, help out, or have questions can call or text Pedersen at 780-349-0181 or via e-mail at [email protected].

George Blais, TownandCountryToday.com

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