For the 12th annual Holiday Kick-Off in Sun Peaks, there will be more activity than ever before.
For the first time, the event has expanded into a three-day experience with an inaugural Christmas tree lighting on Friday, Dec. 13 to jumpstart the festivities.
Friday night: tree lighting at the plaza
At 5 p.m., the 35 foot tall balsam fir acquired from the golf course will be lit in the plaza outside of Sun Peaks Centre, ideally surrounded by a large group of onlookers.
A collaborative effort, Tourism Sun Peaks (TSP) brought the idea of the inaugural tree lighting to Sun Peaks Resort Municipality (SPMRM). A team of public works employees then worked with the superintendent of Sun Peaks Golf Course, Keith Lyall, to acquire, stabilize and secure the tree, which now sits in the plaza ready for the ceremony.
The tree, selected by Lyall, needed to be removed from the golf course area making it ideal for the seasonal tree, TSP events manager Theresa St. Louis said.
In addition to the lighting, Sun Peaks School will host a bake sale with free hot apple cider while music is performed and the first day of the all-weekend artisan market commences.
As the night goes on, the party will move to the ice rink with free public skating starting at 6 p.m.
“We hope to make the Christmas tree celebration an annual event where we have a festive gathering of the community to celebrate the lighting of the tree,” St. Louis said.
The plaza will ideally become a place to gather and celebrate, revolving mostly around the Friday night activities, which includes an ice sculpture that was on display last year as well.
At 3 p.m., the launch of a new après bells program is planned, beginning the celebration of après activities in the resort that will continue throughout the winter every day when the bells ring out.
The Holiday Kick-Off continues all weekend
Three days long, the Holiday Kick-Off will bring more activities to the village Dec. 14 and Dec. 15.
“Saturday is a full activation day with Santa visiting,” St. Louis said. “We have free public booths for people to stop by for s’mores and hot chocolate and gingerbread making.”
A scavenger hunt on Saturday will get people on their feet and able to see the window illustrations throughout the village painted by local artist Zoee Repar.
Photos with Santa are the flagship event on this day, happening at the Clock Tower in partnership with Alpine Images Photography.
The fun lasts through Sunday, with the Artisan Market featuring up to 36 local and unique vendors.
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