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Elphi gears up for Festival of Lights

Those dark winter nights will soon be full of light coming from the dozens of Christmas trees set up at Wendy's/Tim Hortons in Gibsons for the ninth annual Festival of Lights.

Those dark winter nights will soon be full of light coming from the dozens of Christmas trees set up at Wendy's/Tim Hortons in Gibsons for the ninth annual Festival of Lights.

The Festival of Lights is a community event held yearly in Gibsons where local businesses sponsor a Christmas tree, decorate it and string up Christmas lights that are simultaneously lit up during the tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m.

This is a huge event that's free for families to take part in. The trees are sponsored by donation and the money goes to a local school.

This year Elphinstone Secondary School will benefit from the event, and they are putting a lot of work into it too.

The students are creating metal trees that can be sponsored for $200, rather than the $150 sponsorship fee for a natural tree. They are also creating window murals and will have their choir perform at the tree lighting ceremony.

The students hope to raise enough money through this event to help them purchase an electronic sign board for the front of their school, equipment to support student activities or a van to be used on school outings.

If you would like to sponsor a tree, you can pick up a registration form at Tim Hortons or Elphi or contact Anita Crawford at 604-886-2523 or Dee Klapwyk at 604-740-1029.

The school will provide the trees along with a sign displaying your business name. Wendy's/Tim Hortons will provide the power source for lights and Christmas tree stands.

All you have to do is decorate your tree before Dec. 5, or you can pay an additional $50 to have students of Elphi decorate it for you.

There will be two specific days set aside for tree decoration on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 when Wendy's/Tim Hortons will provide beverages and treats for decorating teams.

On Dec. 5 you can come to the restaurant to enjoy refreshments, entertainment, the lighting of the lights and have a chance to vote for your favourite tree.

There are three prizes to be won for best-dressed trees. First prize is lunch for six prepared and served by students at Elphi in their newly revamped school courtyard. Second prize is a day's gardening service by Greg Russell, school board trustee and The Gentleman Gardener with some extra help from Elphi students. Third prize is an hour of music by Elphi musicians to play at the venue of your choice.

If you want to support the Elphi students and don't wish to sponsor a tree, there are other elements of the Festival of Lights that need sponsorship: the window mural for $200, the carollers for $100, the nativity scene for $100 or the sleigh and reindeer for $200.

Community members are asked to reserve their trees as soon as possible for this community event.

Trees will be on display until Jan. 9.