Light Up Night is an annual Invermere Business Committee (IBC) initiative that will take place in downtown Invermere Saturday, November 26.
The Santa Claus parade will kick-off the event, and is followed by an evening of live local entertainment, hot chocolate, food vendors, bonfires lining the main street, and late night shopping.
In addition to the event, the IBC is encouraging Invermere businesses to decorate their store windows and storefronts for the holiday season and enter the first-ever Window Display Decorating Competition.
The new annual competition is open to all Invermere businesses interested in adding a holiday flavour to their storefronts.
Each participating business must be decorated by Light Up, Saturday November 26, and on display through December 19, when a panel of local judges will judge the registered businesses on creativity and uniqueness to determine first, second and third prize.
The top three decorated businesses will be awarded prizes, including a first place advertising package from the Invermere Valley Echo. The first place winners will also be presented with a ‘Best Decorated’ trophy to display in their business for one year.
“The decorating competition will add to an already awesome community event,” said Justin Atterbury, acting chairperson of the IBC.
“The IBC anticipates the contest will inspire Invermere business owners to add a little of their own sparkle to our amazing town. We are confident this contest will ‘light up’ the town and attract locals and valley visitors to check out Invermere’s shops this holiday season.”
In addition to the decorating contest, the IBC also invites all businesses, clubs, service groups and others to participate in the Santa Claus Parade.
The parade will assemble for organization, judging and prizes at 5 p.m. on the west side of Pothole Park. To kick-off Light Up, the parade will commence at 6 p.m. and head south from Pothole Park to 13th Street. Once the parade finishes there will be designated parking spots along Main Street for parade participants to display their floats.
Registration for the parade is encouraged, as there is a limited number of parking spots available.
Parking spots will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis and available only to those who register.
All interested participants must register for the Window Display Decorating Competition and the Santa Claus Parade by Thursday, November 24. To register please visit invermerevalleyecho.com or columbiavalleypioneer.com and click on the registration link.