According to the park’s Director General Cyndy Phillips, the event, which features the park illuminated with thousands of colourful Christmas lights, is one of its proudest traditions.

She explained that the festival is an opportunity for locals to witness the park’s natural beauty and experience everything it has to offer in a different kind of light.

“By allowing people to visit the site in the winter, they can see the lights all throughout the park and all the waterfalls and have a hot chocolate by the bonfire,” she said.

With colourful lights illuminating the park’s pathways and many structures, attendees enjoyed themselves strolling through the park, catching a few of the marvelous light displays on hand.

Folks also had the chance to see the park’s waterfall in its most glowing fashion, as its water emanated in a vibrant, multi-colour scheme like a rainbow.

By the bonfire, a group of attendees listened closely, as local historian Ronald Henri regaled them with stories about driving large logs down the Coulonge River.

Featuring a different theme every week, next Saturday’s event will feature live music by the bonfire.

The following week, the park will host a VIP visitor from the North Pole. During its fourth and final edition of the year on Dec. 28, Brauwerk Hoffman will invite the community to try out its latest samples of craft beer and pretzels, all while enjoying the beautiful views at the Chutes.

As one of the park’s most popular activities of the year, especially during the winter, the festival of lights is an important fundraiser for the park, which uses the event’s proceeds to pay maintenance costs, Phillips said.

“It’s a chance for us to welcome visitors in a season where we don’t have other activities going on,” she said.

For Phillips, the event brings a lot of joy to the community because it gives people another reason to share the holiday cheer with their friends and family, while getting a view of a truly majestic display of Christmas decorating.

“It gives people a chance to get out during the holiday season, see some festive lights, enjoy the nature around us, see the waterfalls in a different way than they see them in the summer,” she said.

With favourable temperatures, a festive atmosphere and lots of families enjoying themselves at the park, Phillips was quite happy with the community’s response to the festival so far.

“We’ve had a really great turnout,” she said. “We’ve lucked out with the weather. We even got a little bit of snow on the ground but not too much to hamper our entire operations. It’s great and we’re hoping that the whole month is a beautiful month for us.”

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