Light-filled parade entrants return to Ladysmith Light Up on Thursday, Nov 24 following a two year hiatus. (Duck Paterson)

By Ian Holmes

Ladysmith Light Up

35th annual Festival of Lights to illuminate Ladysmith’s community pride

Nov 22, 2022 | 5:27 AM

LADYSMITH —Enticing people to a downtown Ladysmith lit up with Christmas lights evolved into an event beyond everybody’s wildest expectations 35 years later.

In 1987, when the first Festival of Lights launched, longtime organizing committee member Duck Paterson recalled expectations at that time were a smaller, more localized tradition would be born.

“It was ‘wow, we’re going to get 300 maybe 500 people downtown and this is going to be big’ and it was. What it is today, nobody would have ever have imaged it would have turned into this kind of a family event.”

In the range of 30,000 people attended Ladysmith Light Up in the years leading up to 2020, according to Paterson citing Ladysmith RCMP estimations.

People from all over Vancouver Island, even as far as the Mainland, flock to Ladysmith for the big night, Paterson said.

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An ever-growing number of some 200,000 lights accompany those large crowds for the renowned Ladysmith Light Up gathering.

The lights will be ignited by Santa Claus on Thursday, Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m., while musical entertainment will accompany the party-like atmosphere throughout the festive evening.

A popular parade of more than 40 bright entrants hits 1st Ave. after the lights come on, then a fireworks display will start at around 7:45 p.m., Paterson anticipates.

One of multiple impressive parade entrants at the 2019 Ladysmith Light Up event. (Duck Paterson)

Ladysmith’s Festival of Lights lasts until Sunday, Jan 8.

Paterson, a Ladysmith town councillor who has been a Festival of Lights committee member for 33 years, said every year the lights draping businesses stretches a little further south of the primary focus area between the Trans Canada Hwy. at Bob Stuart Park and Roberts St.

He said their 15 member committee meets year-round, who are strongly bolstered in the weeks leading up to light up night.

About 125 people are involved in various events, including work parties to make Ladysmith’s downtown dazzle nightly through the winter holiday season.

“Not everybody wants to go to meetings all the time, but when the need arises when the call goes out…people come out because they’re proud of it.”

While the Festival of Lights went ahead during the previous two years, the launch event on the last Thursday night of November did not due to pandemic related health restrictions.

“With what’s going on in the world and everybody hopefully getting out of COVID and stuff, it’s just a chance to look at the lights and see how peaceful things can be.”

1st Ave. will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 24 between 3 p.m. and approximately 10 p.m., while downtown area parking availability will be extremely limited.

A Festival of Lights GoFundMe campaign is generating funds to purchase long-lasting LED lights, as traditional incandescent ones are continually phased out by the organization.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes