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VIDEO: Aldergrove Light Up Christmas parade draws thousands

Township, sponsors, credited with making event possible

Thousands of people packed Aldergrove sidewalks for the Light Up Parade on Saturday, Dec. 11.

There was a free pre-parade community gathering at the temporary community plaza at 272nd Street and Fraser Highway, featuring hot beverages, popcorn, balloon animals and live music.

It took about 50 minutes for the entire procession to make its way through town, ending with Santa on a float that housed a genuine black leather antique sleigh, loaned by the B.C. Farm Museum in Fort Langley.

M.C. Robin McIntosh said the parade “had more floats, more crowd, and definitely a much more vibrant atmosphere.”

“It was like there was a hunger to feel more festive again,” McIntosh remarked.

Aldergrove Business Association president Sara Murdoch. who was also on the parade planning committee, praised the Township of Langley for stepping up to help cover higher costs resulting from a WorkSafe B.C. crackdown on regulations that require professional, paid, traffic control personnel for parades.

“They’re [WorkSafe] very firm,” Murdoch commented.

Thousands turned out for Aldergrove’s Light Up Parade on Saturday, Dec. 11, including a tribute to the Whos from Whoville from the Dr. Seuss story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Thousands turned out for Aldergrove’s Light Up Parade on Saturday, Dec. 11, including a tribute to the Whos from Whoville from the Dr. Seuss story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

Murdoch said the Township was “able to cover a very large portion of the costs,” and that, as well as providing the plaza space, and performing stage, and combined with contributions by local sponsors, made the event possible.

“So many people helped,” Murdoch said.

Among them Alliance Concrete Pumps, Janda Group — the builders of the Aldergrove Town Centre project — and Pearce Hardware, who played a big part in helping to create a new float for Santa with the antique sleigh.

“Every time we went to them [Pearce], they just gave us multiple armfuls,” Murdoch enthused.

READ ALSO: Santa’s float comes together ahead of Aldergrove’s Light-Up Parade

She also praised sponsor Otter Co-op, Aldergrove Rotary, Jodi Steeves and the VIP Team, and Bakerview Memorial cemetery.

Even the weather cooperated, with cold drizzle falling on the pre-parade event, but halting while the parade was underway.

Since the parade, Murdoch has heard lots of positive feedback — “so many compliments” — from people who enjoyed the evening.

“That’s our goal [for Aldergrove],” Murdoch commented, “to make it more to be excited about.”

Township Mayor Eric Woodward, who attended the pre-parade event, said traffic control requirements for parades have become “more complicated,” which required the municipality to step up.

He would like a long-term solution.

“I think we need to come up with a plan, where the Township is more helpful,” Woodward remarked.

Thousands turned out for Aldergrove’s Light Up Parade on Saturday, Dec. 11. It was the first look at Santa’s new ride, an antique sleigh loaned to the Aldergrove Christmas committee by the B.C. Farm Museum in Fort Langley. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Thousands turned out for Aldergrove’s Light Up Parade on Saturday, Dec. 11. It was the first look at Santa’s new ride, an antique sleigh loaned to the Aldergrove Christmas committee by the B.C. Farm Museum in Fort Langley. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

More pictures from the pre-parade event and the parade can be viewed online at the Langley Advance Times Facebook page.

RELATED: Aldergrove Christmas parade 2021 rated a ‘huge success’

Langley City Council cited higher traffic control costs as a factor in their decision to call off the Magic of Christmas parade and hold a two-day Christmas festival instead.


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Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I’m the guy you’ll often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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