10th Annual Bright Lights Festival & Midnight Madness Event in Downtown Lethbridge ... our biggest celebration ever!

The 10th Annual Bright Lights Festival will kick off the holiday shopping season in downtown Lethbridge on Friday, November 19th. The ceremonial lighting of Galt Gardens Park will take place shortly after the arrival of Santa at approximately 6:00 p.m.

The Downtown Business Revitalization Zone (DBRZ) is especially excited to be partnering with the City of Lethbridge's 'Heart of Our City' and the Cultural Appreciation Society of Alberta (CASA) on this year's lighting of the park. Hundreds of new lights and a choreographed light show have been added in order to help us celebrate the 10th anniversary of this popular community event. The new Christmas lighting feature will add a whole new dimension to the event and the downtown. CASA's Lethbridge Holiday Light Festival will be in operation each evening from November 19 until January 7. A dedicated radio channel (102.7FM) will provide downtown visitors with the opportunity to take in the light show from the comfort of their vehicles while parked around Galt Gardens Park. Visitors are also encouraged to stroll through the park to listen to, and view, the lights close-up.

Besides the amazing Lethbridge Holiday Light Festival, Christmas Movies-in-the-Park will also be back again this year. A variety of classic Christmas movies will be shown from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the pergola area of the park. As well, the traditional hayrides, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, coffee and popcorn will be available (free-of-charge) courtesy of the DBRZ and participating merchants. The U of L's Faculty Brass Quintet and Tuba Christmas will be treating everyone to a live musical performance of classic Christmas tunes.

Midnight Madness will also be taking place in conjunction with the Bright Lights Festival. Participating businesses will be keeping their doors open late on November 19th and providing their valued customers with Midnight Madness specials.

Back again this year will be the London Road Neighborhood Association (LRNA) who will be on hand to sell hot dogs and hamburgers and to take donations for the Lethbridge Shelter & Resource Centre Soup Kitchen. The U of L's Kappa Sigma fraternity will be back again this year to help volunteer for light installation, concessions and take-down/clean-up after the event.

Modernegg will be presenting the 3rd Annual MADE Show+Sale at The Gate (522 - 3rd Avenue S. - old Bank of Montreal building) from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. A collection of local vendors will be selling unique, hand-made items. For more information, call (403) 894-3462.

For more information on the Bright Lights Festival & Midnight Madness event, contact Ted Stilson at the DBRZ at (403) 327-9002.