Vernon Light Up gets ready to flick the switch

The City of Vernon officially kicks off the Christmas spirit this Saturday with the 26th annual Light Up event.

Four city blocks will be closed to traffic as over 40 vendors, including Santa himself, line the streets throughout the early evening for the festivities.

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, Light Up presented by Wayside, will allow Vernon residents, and those from further afield, to celebrate the beginning of the holidays and soak up the festive atmosphere.

While there is no official ceremony, the Christmas lights come on at 5 p.m.

Santa's Anonymous will be holding a bonfire and marshmallow roast, and there will be music to add to the Christmas atmosphere performed by a variety of local choirs.

"It's a great way to kick off the holiday season with family friends or both in a fun and inclusive environment," Downtown Vernon Association events coordinator Dudley Coulter told iNFOnews.ca. "Make it a night out… go for dinner before or afterwards, maybe catch a movie, make it a fun night out."

Ten food trucks will be lining the streets offering an array of snacks and drinks to keep out the cold, and multiple local businesses and organizations will be represented. Kids will also get the chance to visit Santa as well as take part in a variety of interactive displays.

For more information the Downtown Vernon Light Up go here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.