Coquitlam residents can get their steps in this fall and winter around a lit Lafarge Lake.
But, like last year, there’ll be no official city celebration to launch the annual Lights at Lafarge display.
Held at the end of November, the opening typically sees thousands of revellers gather at Town Centre Park for the switch flip, as well as enjoy the holiday entertainment.
However, with no ability to fence the outdoor site or to limit access in order to maintain the provincial health orders on physical distancing, the municipality told the Tri-City News on Tuesday that it was cancelling the kick-off event.
Still, for this year’s light show that takes place from Nov. 27 to Jan. 31, the city will have some changes in place to keep local visitors on the go.
To spread viewers out, there will be two walking loops within the park that will include the path around the whale (on Pinetree Way) to Guildford Way, as well as a western route from the Inspiration Garden to the new concession hub.
Park hosts will also be on site to keep the pedestrian traffic flowing in one direction during peak hours (usually on the weekends from 6 to 8 p.m.).
As for the decorations, more than 500 volunteers with the Park Spark program have been busy for the past two months crafting animals and flowers out of recycled materials; even coat hangers were shaped to make snow flakes, said Wendy Wiederick, Coquitlam’s parks operations manager.
And the popular caterpillar tunnel? It’s being re-fabricated to provide more room for visitors to snake through and snap selfies.
“There will be a few new elements and surprises along the way,” Wiederick said, adding, “This year, it’s really for the local community to get out and to continue walking during the colder, wetter months.”
Meanwhile, city staff, volunteers and a contractors will begin installing the lights around Lafarge Lake in mid-November.
• For more information about Lights at Lafarge, visit coquitlam.ca/lights. To volunteer with Park Spark, email parkspark@coquitlam.ca.
