It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Langley as the City prepares for the Magic of Christmas events.
The events on Saturday, Dec. 7 begins early. There’s breakfast with Santa Claus in the morning, and later the annual parade and treelighting ceremony, live entertainment, crafts for kids, letters to Santa, and caroling.
The holiday event has been going on for at least 20 years and usually draws in more than 5,000 people, said Karlo Tamondong, the City of Langley’s recreation supervisor.
“It just brings the whole community together to celebrate the spirit of Christmas, and it’s basically the kick off to the Christmas season,” Tamondong said.
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The day of celebrations will begin with breakfast with St. Nick at Douglas Park Recreation Centre (20550 Douglas Cres.) from 9 to 11 a.m. There are 150 tickets made available, and can be purchased online for $5 per person.
The morning meal will also include crafts, facepainting, and a magic show.
Starting at 1 p.m. a stretch of Fraser Highway (stretching from 204th to 207th Streets) will be closed to traffic for the evening festivities. The road will reopen around 8 p.m.
The pre-parade festivities will held at the Innes Corners (20399 Fraser Hwy.), McBurney Plaza, (20518 Fraser Hwy.) and St. Andrews Plaza (20615 Fraser Hwy.) starting at 4 p.m.
“We have three craft stations,” said Tamondong. “McBurney Plaza will have our snow sculpture once again, [an artist will] be creating a holiday Christmas sculpture out of snow, and then we’ll have face painters and balloon twisters along those three locations, as well.”
The entertainment and crafts will conclude at 6 p.m. so everyone can watch the parade.
The Magic of Christmas parade features more than 50 entries made up of floats, bands, carolers, businesses, and community groups. It will begin at Fraser Highway and 56th Avenue, travelling east along Fraser Highway and finish at 207th Street.
After the parade Santa will join the mayor and council in McBurney Plaza for the 7 p.m. ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree, where people can enjoy caroling and hot chocolate.
“Dress warmly. Dress for the weather,” said Tamondong. “The event will go on rain or shine, or if it’s snowing.”
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