At a few minutes before 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, Lake Cowichan’s fire truck came barrelling down South Shore Street with its siren and lights going full tilt just in time to drop Santa off for the official “town light-up.”
The children, who had been waiting inside the Gingerbread House (officially the Visitor Information Centre) singing Christmas songs and watching out the window in anticipation, poured out into the parking lot to see him arrive for the big moment.
It took only a few minutes to find the right spot to set up the magic light switch that would illuminate the Christmas Tree. Then, the town’s mayor, Ross Forrest, and his willing helpers — Santa, Pat Weaver (CVRD area I), Ian Morrison (CVRD area F) and Ron McKenzie, the genius behind the light switch — flipped the switch. And presto! the town was lit for another festive Christmas season in Lake Cowichan.
Once done with the formalities, Santa took the time to talk to each and every little girl and boy who had come to see him, offering them a pre-Christmas stuffie to help them endure the long wait until the big day.
The town’s Christmas light-up also signalled the official kick-off to December Christmas Madness.
From Dec. 8-15, all participating businesses in town will be giving customers a stamp for their December Madness shopping passport.
Once a passport holder gets five stamps, he or she can drop it off in the box at the VIC to be eligible to win one of seven $50 gift certificates.
The draw for the prizes will be held Dec. 16.