Uxbridge service club pitches Christmas 'fantasy' event
May 12, 2008 - 03:11 PM
UXBRIDGE -- An Uxbridge service club is looking to light up Elgin Park and the eyes of families in the process this Christmas season.
Brent Lunn, John Carroll and Fred Bendell, members of the local Optimist Club, approached councillors recently regarding the creation of a 'Fantasy of Lights' in the park. The event would invite local companies, schools, clubs, churches and residents to enter an LED display to celebrate the season. The tentative dates of the light show are Dec. 18 to 24. Residents will be able to walk or drive through the park, on a one-way loop from Main to Water streets, to take in the displays.
The club asked the Township for use of the park between those dates, including the availability of power to run the displays as well as any snow-clearing required.
Mr. Lunn said he hopes the event will be a success so it can grow in future years.
Donations would be collected at the event to benefit Uxbridge youth. The purpose of the initiative is also for "promotion of Uxbridge and support of tourism within Uxbridge" according to the Optimist Club, which also notes similar events have been popular in other Ontario towns such at St. Thomas.
According to the St. Thomas-Elgin Tourism Association website at
www.elgintourist.com, the event there began in 1993 with 23 displays and has "evolved into a December light show of over 100 displays" that are turned on from 5 to 10 p.m. during the festival. The site also notes, "Originally the (St. Thomas) Holiday Fantasy of Lights Committee borrowed $13,000 from the City of St. Thomas to get started. Free-will donations allowed us to repay the city at the end of the second year."
Entertainment also rounds out the St. Thomas event.
Uxbridge councillors expressed favour toward the idea, directing staff to meet with the club to address logistical details of putting the inaugural event together.
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