Festival of Lights to shine at Confederation Park Golf Course

The Lions Festival of Lights display at Confederation Park Golf Course will go ahead as planned this year.

The City of Calgary and the Lions Festival of Lights Society reached an agreement that will allow the Society early access to the course this year to inspect and install the 500,000-light display. The display will be open November 30 to January 8.

The City and the Society will continue to work on longer term plans and agreement that will allow the light display to continue for years to come.

“We are very happy we will be able to install the Festival of Lights display this year,” said Society Chair, Otto Silzer, who has volunteered with the Festival of Lights since its inception. “Thousands of families and children come out each year to see the display and walk around. It’s a family tradition.”

Katie Black, Acting General Manager of Community Services at The City, is pleased the parties have agreed to work together to ensure the seasonal light display is installed, maintained and dismantled while addressing the safety and enjoyment of all.

“The City and Calgarians appreciate the work of the Lions Festival of Lights Society over the years to bring a fantastic seasonal display to life,” said Black. “We are grateful both parties are committed to finding solutions that would result in the continuation of this family-friendly, accessible seasonal light display.”

The early closure of the Confederation Park Golf Course this year for construction and maintenance work means the Society and its hundreds of volunteers can access the course by October 15 to inspect, test and install the display. The course is usually open for golfers through October.

The parties will work on a new formal agreement for future years that addresses access and other requirements to the mutual benefit of everyone.

The holiday light display has been set up each year since 1986 along the fairways of holes 3, 4, 5 and 6 at Confederation Park Golf Course.

The Society estimates it takes hundreds of volunteers approximately 1,000 hours each year to inspect, assess and assemble the display. Silzer said the display wouldn’t be possible without the support of local organizations, businesses and City operations.

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