While Christmas lights illuminate Ottawa every year, next weekend, there will be more than one thing to celebrate as Olympic fever hits the capital.
Held Sat., Dec. 12, the 25th annual Christmas Lights Across Canada illumination ceremony on Parliament Hill will coincide with the lighting of the cauldron when the Olympic flame is carried across Ottawa.
“Each year in early December, the NCC invites residents and visitors to gather at the Parliament buildings together to celebrate the illumination of Christmas lights,” said National Capital Commission CEO Marie Lemay Thursday.
The Christmas Lights Across Canada program sees more than 300,000 lights at 70 sites in the capital alone, and hundreds of thousands more across the country, she said.
“The program celebrates the many traditions and values we have as Canadians cherished especially during that time of year,” she said. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime and we’re hoping as many Canadians as possible will come out … when the torchbearer lights the cauldron, I hope that Canadians can share in that pride, the pride in our country, pride in our achievements and pride in our capital region.”
Events on Dec. 12 begin at 5:30 p.m. with entertainment, including a performance by Gregory Charles and a choir of 100 singers and an Aboriginal Hoop Dance. The flame proceeds from the Centennial Flame to the stage for the illumination of the cauldron and the Christmas lights and pyrotechnic effects at about 7 p.m., followed by a performance by Tom Cochrane and a performance of a Peace Tower carillon. Free hot chocolate and Beavertails will be served throughout the night.
Wellington Street will be closed for the event, with details to be announced at a later date.
The Olympic flame will be in the National Capital Region for four days. It arrives in Gatineau Dec. 11, Ottawa Dec. 12, heads to Pembroke Dec. 13 and leaves the region from downtown Ottawa Dec. 14.
