There was a break from the rain and the sun shone on the 25 volunteers who came out to hang lights to save Christmas in Williams Park on Sunday.
“We got quite a bit done, all the perimeter of the park is done, it was a really great day,” said Barbara Sharp, Christmas in Williams Park Society president.
Township of Langley staff were there Monday, laying gravel down and getting the park ready. Township Mayor Jack Froese and many others will be at the park on Thursday at 5 p.m. when the lights get turned on, marking the opening of the Christmas light show.
Among the volunteers on Sunday was nine-year-old Sara Walmsley, who decided to take action after hearing that thieves had cancelled her favourite light display at Williams Park.
Quickly she reached out to students at her Walnut Grove school, who brought in donated strings of LED lights. She also raised $200.
Sharp decided to use that $200 to buy something really special for the lights display and wants to reveal it to Sara on Thursday.
“What a sweet kid and wonderful work she has done to save Christmas in Williams Park. I wanted to show her that we really appreciate it,” said Sharp.
Canadian Tire also donated $1,000 worth of lights to the cause.
Sharp said this year’s light show is going to have some new “wow factors” as well as being very pretty and dazzling. She estimates there are more than 100,000 lights in the park.
“I hope people like it,” she said.
People are encouraged to drive through Christmas in Williams Park Dec. 11 to Dec. 21 from 5 to 9 p.m. each night. The park is located in the 6700 block of 238 Street.