Organizations and community groups are hoping some lights and decorations may amp up the holiday spirit this year.
The second annual Tilbury Lions Christmas Light Festival will shine at Tilbury Memorial Park until January 9, 2021. The festival committee said the light event was set to start during the last week of November but did not announce an official opening night in order to avoid large gatherings.
The display features over 35,000 lights that will turn on every night from 5:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. A couple of new displays are also up this year near the Odette Walking Trail.
"This free outdoor event is a lovely way to experience the magic of Christmas through the wonder of lights," read a media release. "The festival committee is excited to provide another fun-filled Christmas community event."
Residents are asked to maintain physical distance from other attendees. Free parking will be available along Stewart Street and within the park.
Aside from light displays, attendees can also check out the Cook Boys’ Memorial Christmas Tree, which will show off over 300 personalized memorial ornaments. Money raised through ornament sales will be donated to the Chatham-Kent Hospice.
The festival committee has also organized a photo contest for this year. Attendees are asked to take a picture while at the park and send it to tlclightfestival@gmail.com by December 20th for a chance to win one of five $25 gift certificates to a Tilbury restaurant, donated by the Tilbury BIA. Photos sent in must be accompanied by a name and a phone number. A prize draw will be streamed live on the festival's Facebook page on December 22, 2020.
The Tilbury Lions Christmas Light Festival is organized by volunteers. Funding for this year's event came from donations, sponsors, and funding through the Municipality's Together CK: Events Grant Program.
Meanwhile, several other communities in Chatham-Kent are also set to light up their neighbourhoods. Homeowners have registered for initiatives in areas such as Dresden, Blenheim, and Wallaceburg so that their homes could be featured on a map for others to travel on their own to see lights and decorations.
In some cases, there are competitions as well. Organizers with the Dresden Shines Brighter Together Neighbourhood Cup will judge participating displays and announce a winner through social media on December 7, 2020.
Participants involved in the Light Up Our Neighbourhood event in Blenheim will get the chance to win BIA dollars. Online registration for the event runs until December 10 and lights will shine from December 1, 2020until January 8, 2021.
The Chatham Armoury is also hosting a light projection show from December 14, 2020 until December 20, 2020. Registration for the drive-in event opened on November 16, 2020.
