Light Up Summerland

Another successful Festival of Lights was held in the charming community of Summerland on Friday, November 24^th, 2023 . A community that I am lucky to call home, as are many others that live here and take pride in this lovely little town (which clearly showed on the night of the event).

The Festival of Lights started back in 1987, initiated by a small group of local businessmen to promote the downtown businesses of Summerland and to showcase the community to residents and neighboring communities. Over 25,000 lights were sold to businesses in the first year to get the project started. Eventually the District of Summerland became involved, and they now hang the decorative lights we see lining the streets of the downtown core, while the local businesses continue the tradition of lighting up their own properties. The very first event – and the only one of it’s kind back then – attracted an estimated 4,000-5,000 people!

The event has grown so much over the last 36 years there are now more than 50 vendors and businesses participating with well over 10,000 people in attendance (in past years up to an estimated 14,000). There are 2 stages offering amazing LOCAL entertainers, a designated beverage tent for tasting local wines, ciders and spirits, as well as a full family fun zone!

The Festival usually starts with a Santa procession around 5pm, then at 7pm, the very much anticipated Light Up of the downtown core, with an outstanding Fireworks display put on by the Summerland Credit Union at 8:30pm to finish the Festival off!

Summerlanders and neighbors look forward to this event all year, and without a doubt, it will only continue to grow and get better! Until 2024!