By Bob Groeneveld/Special to the Langley Advance
Brookswood merchants are opening a window to Christmas… lots of windows, in fact.
And they’re inviting the community to come out and pick the best one.
A window decorating contest, with the best windows chosen by the public, will be just one of a number of activities and Christmassy happenings at this year’s Brookswood Village Night of Lights being presented by the Brookswood Merchants Association (BMA) 5:30 to 7 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 8.
“The windows will be done up before the night, but it’s on that night that you can vote,” said Emma Stewart of the BMA.
“And we’ll be featuring each window on our Facebook pages as well, to give people more access to them, because you don’t go to all the businesses all the time.”
Stewart said Elsa, Disney’s Frozen princess, is being added to this year’s line-up.
“She is going to be having her own area if it’s raining, or walk around if it’s not, to meet the kids and sign autographs, We really think that will be a big draw for the kids. Kids go nuts for these characters.”
Elsa will plug in the lights to the big Christmas tree at Super Save Gas at 6:30 p.m.
“Super Save already has the lights, and they string them for us and provide that every year,” said Stewart.
“We’ll plug in the lights for the first time that night, and then every dawn to dusk they’ll come on automatically for the rest of the month.”
Along with the addition of Elsa, Santa Paws will be back at PetFude.ca and Rustic Roots Health Food, near the Buy Low grocery store, this year.
“Last year he was a big draw for all the kids to take their picture with Santa Paws,” said Stewart.
Stewart and her Re/Max Treeland Realty partner Lisa Yasuda will have their pickup truck on hand to Fill the Truck for charity.
“ My partner and I are doing a Fill the Truck, and that seems to be pretty popular when we’re going around talking to people and about that, just to bring out new or gently used warm blankets and clothes and all that,” Stewart said.
“The idea is that we’re going to fill our truck with donations. It’s a good way that people can give back and also have some fun.”
The BMA is also encouraging people to bring food bank donations.
Hot chocolate will be provided, courtesy of the Brookswood Liquor Store and by the Langley Advance, Cedarbrook Bakery is bringing cookies to the party, and the Langley Elks are providing popcorn.
In addition to offering photos with Santa Paws, PetFude.ca will help kids make pine cone Christmas ornaments.
Brennan’s Ladies’ and Men’s Wear will have ornaments and a giveaway for those helping to decorate the tree.
This is one of two annual events put on by the Brookswood merchants. The BMA also puts on Summerfest in the middle of June each year.