The Rutland community is coming together for a holiday fun-filled weekend.
The Rutland Christmas Light Up goes Sunday, Dec. 10 from 3 to 7:30 p.m. The official light up will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Roxby Square (next to the My Neighbourhood Restaurant) with caroling by the Rutland Rejuvenating Singers choir, hot chili, cookies, hot chocolate and the City of Kelowna active living team. Bring a non-perishable food item for the Salvation Army.
“There are more than 30,000 people in this community and the one great thing about Rutland is it’s very community focused, so we love to bring the community together,” said Laurel D’Andrea of the Uptown Rutland Business Association. “By having our own light up, they just own it and we’ve expanded over the past couple of years.”
An artificial Christmas tree, which extends as high as 70 feet tall, will be lit for the second year in Roxby Square.
Cookie decorating, letters to Santa and other crafts will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Highway 33 Plaza. To end the night, Santa will read The Night Before Christmas at the Rutland library.
Related: Kelowna light up delight for parents
Eventually, the artificial tree will be moved to Rutland Centennial Park once renovations to the park are complete.
“It’s a good fit once we get the park done because we’ll have more room for people,” said D’Andrea.
Seven metal trees are also decorated with green and red lights in the square and a nutcracker will be on the scene.
Christmas banners have been placed along Highway 33 with the hope to continue expanding next year, said D’Andrea. Eighteen special banners were placed by the city throughout the week.
“It’s never been done in the past. It’s been a work in progress and URBA’s been grateful for the City of Kelowna,” she said.
Living Nativity also presents Scrooge and the Saviour at Willow Park Church, throughout the weekend. The musical drama is for all ages.
Walk through Christmas scenes while enjoying hot drinks and cookies with the Bethlehem petting zoo. The event takes place Friday, Dec. 8 at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9 at 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 10 at 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. For more information call 250-765-6622 or info@willowparkchurch.com.
To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.
<>@carliberry_
carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
