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Williams Park Christmas revamped

The annual celebration no longer includes the walk-in activities and entertainment.
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Christmas at Williams Park will last longer this year but there won’t be the two-night family celebration as in previous years.

The Williams Park Society which oversees the Christmas events for the past couple of years has decided not to have the walk-in event.

The park is decorated for the holidays from Dec. 7 to 19 and is open evenings to the public.

Barb Sharp, president of the society, said the decision for the change was based on various factors.

“It’s not the work [involved],” she noted. “It became almost too successful for it’s own good in a way.”

There were such big crowds on the two walk-in evenings that the neighbourhood could not accommodate the crowds, despite organizers arranging shuttle busing, traffic flaggers and other measures.

So now people can still walk around the park and use the picnic shelter if the weather is bad but most will drive through to see the light displays.

This is year 25 for Christmas in Williams Park and until recently it was done by the Township with help from volunteers.

This year volunteer work bees repainted the decorative cutouts and did set up.

The tucked away park decorated for the holidays was hit by thieves and vandals more than once in recent years with the park society cancelling events one year. A groundswell of community support prompted the society to reinstate the holiday event.

Sharp said Christmas in Williams Park will continue to evolve in the future. The society is looking at lower key activities, such as having local choirs on weekends.

“We’re always looking for ideas… and volunteers,” she added.

 



Heather Colpitts

About the Author: Heather Colpitts

Since starting in the news industry in 1992, my passion for sharing stories has taken me around Western Canada.
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