Despite a soaking downpour that just wouldn't let up on Saturday Aldergrove's second annual Wall of Lanterns event was a success, bringing out hundreds of people who helped raise $5,000 for B.C. Children's Hospital.
People had to huddle under tents and umbrellas for the light-up ceremony shortly after 7 p.m., but still cheered wildly when over 800 carved pumpkins were lit up on the scaffolding set up at All Seasons Garden Centre on Fraser Highway.
It was the culmination of weeks of work for the band of volunteers, working with the Aldergrove Business Association sponsors of the event.
The day was filled with family oriented activities and entertainment, for visitors who each carved a pumpkin for a $5 donation to the B.C. Children's Hospital. There were prizes, bouncy castle, a rock climbing wall, live concerts, a kids' activity tent, pony rides, hay rides and more. Performers included headliner Charlotte Diamond, along with local talents such as the band Poppy and the Pistols and the Shannon Irish Dancers.
ABA president Bruce Heslop thanked all the volunteers, including all of the ABA board members, "who make Aldergrove an excellent community to live in. Aldergrove rules!"
In addition to ABA board members Jody Henderson, Janice Reid, Susan Glover, Ray and Rick Van Bugnum, and Constable Paul Walker, Heslop thanked RBC's Karen Fox and computer whiz Bill Reid for their invaluable help.
Ray Van Bugnum also praised Sam Weih, the handicapped person hired by the ABA to sweep Aldergrove's streets, for his efforts. Both Weih and Councillor Charlie Fox shared the duties of flipping the switch to turn the lights on inside the jack o'lanterns.
Coun. Fox also praised the ABA and All Seasons Garden Centre for "taking all this and next week to organize and host the community event, which continues nightly through Halloween, and Craig Anderson of The Source and Heath MacKenzie of Cranky's Bike Shop for contributing so much to the event's success.
"It's a very unique project," said Fox, "with the profits going to B.C. Children's Hospital to help young people like Sam Weih when they have unfortunate circumstances in their lives. That's what we're all about in Aldergrove — community."