The Lights of Joy event in Battleford enjoyed a good turnout this year. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Battleford Community Spirit Group

Lights of Joy celebration, dance see positive numbers

Nov 25, 2023 | 9:05 AM

The Battleford Community Spirit Group are reporting good numbers for their Lights of Joy celebration this year.

The group was involved in the annual lighting the trees at the Gazebo Park on main street in Battleford – a festive fundraiser for the non profit organization.

New this year, the group held a free family dance at the Alex Dillabough Centre after the gathering downtown. The event included donations to the local Food Bank, and a canteen operated by the scouts.

“I think it went really well,’ acting president Michelle Lalonde said. “Everybody that came had a lot of fun. We weren’t sure about what the turnout would be because it was our first big event since Covid. We had a lot of support from the community and the businesses.”

She added the children taking part also had a great deal of fun that evening.

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The group already plans to hold a meeting to discuss some details it might change for next year.

“We definitely want to try doing it again next year,” Lalonde said. “We had a lot of support from the community and the businesses. I think it went really well, and the kids had so much fun.”

A number of businesses donated prizes for the event.

The Food Bank also saw a good response.

“We got a big haul for the Food Bank with all the [non perishable food] donations,” Lalonde said.

Organizers estimated about 150 to 200 people attended the dance and took part in visits to Santa.

“We made sure we had enough [seating] for 400 kids,” Lalonde said. “We were hoping to at least get 100. So we were quite happy with the turnout, considering there was a lot going on with hockey [etc.].”

The donors who stepped and sponsored the tree lights at Gazebo Park were instrumental in helping the Battleford Community Spirit Group be able to put on these types of events.

“All of the trees are sold for this year,” Lalonde noted. “They were lit up that night. We use the proceeds to put on the Family Dance, the Street Festival [and other events]. That helps us put on the free activities throughout the year in the Battlefords. We’ll definitely be doing it again next year.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @battlefordsnow