by Ronda Payne/Special to the 91原创 Advance
A new event has come to 91原创 to delight kids of all ages with lights, entertainment, and family fun.
Glow Christmas Light Garden and Market opens inside the Milner Village Garden Centre this Friday, Nov. 24 and runs Mondays to Saturdays from 4 to 10 p.m. until Dec. 30.
The 103,000-square-foot greenhouse will be transformed with half a million lights set up in four distinctly themed light gardens and a 210-foot musical light tunnel.
Plus, with food trucks and a pop-up market on site, it鈥檚 the ideal way to have festive fun while shopping without the stress, said Glow鈥檚 event manager, Jonathan Houweling.
The idea took form sometime in the spring of 2017 according to Houweling.
鈥淭he original idea came from the owner and CFO of Davonda Nurseries. They identified the space was perfect for the event,鈥� he said. 鈥淧eople honestly love Christmas events, they love family events. The biggest complaint is that everything is outdoors.鈥�
With the massive garden centre transformed, there鈥檚 no need to battle the elements to enjoy the beauty and wonder of a holiday event, he suggested.
鈥淢ilner Gardens has a huge retail area and it鈥檚 awesome,鈥� Houweling said of the site at 6690 216th St.
When Houweling came on board, he recognized the need to add charities to the equation.
鈥淚 tried to pick two very practical and different charities in 91原创 and then a larger one with Canuck Place,鈥� he noted. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been great, the charities.鈥�
91原创 Hospice Society, 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation and Canuck Place Children鈥檚 Hospice are the main charities supported through ticket sales.
鈥淏asically if people type in a promo code鈥� $4 will go to their selected charity,鈥� Houweling explained.
Tickets can be purchased at . Enter promo code 91原创Hospice and $4 of your ticket purchase will go to support the local hospice.
91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation鈥檚 code is LMHF, and using the code CanuckPlace will see funds contributed to Canuck Place Children鈥檚 Hospice.
鈥淚t鈥檚 Christmas time, it鈥檚 about giving and it鈥檚 about sharing with our community,鈥� he said.
鈥淥ther charities approached us, but you can only have so many partners.鈥�
However, to ensure other charities are also involved, the jolly old elf himself will play a part.
Selfies with Santa will be done by donation, and that money will go to a different charity each day. Houweling said it鈥檚 a small way to share the giving spirit of the season.
With lights, a site-wide liquor licence (and bar), different musical performances every night, and a kids zone with a Christmas treasure hunt, there鈥檚 plenty for everyone to see and do.
鈥淲e are North America鈥檚 largest indoor Christmas light display,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have eight food trucks, as well.鈥�
With a 40 vendor market, shopping can include the hunt for clothing, food, soap and hand-crafted items, art and more.
鈥淵ou can shop, you can grab some food from the food trucks, you can have a glass of local B.C. wine or local craft beer from the Trading Post or put a shot of rum in your eggnog,鈥� Houweling explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 over half a million lights and it鈥檚 warm and dry.鈥�
A team of close to 100 people worked to put everything together and create what Houweling described as a lot of open space to wander around, enjoy family and friends and take in the lights.
While it鈥檚 obviously too soon to confirm whether the event will happen again in 2018, he did give his opinion.
鈥淲e do want to be around a long time,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e want to become a tradition. It鈥檚 an opportunity to see over half a million carefully constructed and positioned lights in a building I can guarantee [most people have] never been in. We cannot wait to see our friends and neighbours come out and visit us.鈥�
For tickets or more information about the inaugural Glow Christmas Light Garden and Market visit .
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