Santa Claus is rumoured to be paying an early visit to Ladysmith tonight to help the community kick off its month-long Festival of Lights. As night falls on Ladysmith, Santa will pull a big switch to set the downtown ablaze with 100,000 dazzling lights.
This is the 25th anniversary of the festival, which runs until the first week in January. The lights adorn turn-of-the century buildings and homes from the Coronation Mall, at the south end of town, to Aggie Field on the north end. The lights represent thousands of hours of volunteer work by the community.
The celebration starts at 3 p.m. with a community spaghetti dinner, craft fair and street entertainment. Performers start on stage from 4 p.m. Santa pulls the switch at 6: 30 p.m., followed by a Kinsmen Parade along First Avenue. The celebrations end with a fireworks display near Aggie Field. First Avenue will be closed to traffic after 2 p.m.
Go to ladysmithfol.com.
