The bulbs framing the Hobbit House in Coquitlam's Town Centre Park are now shining at night in anticipation of the annual Lights at Lafarge.
City crews have placed machinery around Lafarge Lake to install more than 100,000 lights and holiday features for the show that officially starts on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.
Sara Yastremski, Coquitlam's parks services manager, told the Tri-City News today, Nov. 6, that this season's outdoor exhibit along the 1.2-km pathway will include more lights, as well as a few re-imagined elements and vignettes that highlight flora, fauna and fairytales.
"Throughout the duration of the show, the display is constantly changing with new elements being added and different activities running nightly," she said.
"People are encouraged to visit Lights at Lafarge multiple times throughout its two-month span for a different experience each and every time."
@tricitynews Drone’s eye-view of Lights at Lafarge. 🎄 #tricitynews #coquitlam #lightsatlafarge ♬ original sound - TriCityNews
Kick-off party
Presented by Coquitlam Centre, the free display, which runs until the end of February, kicks off Nov. 24 with a family-friendly party from 5 to 8 p.m.
Cultural services manager Karen Basi said there will be DJ music, a children's choir, a comedy magic show and fire and light show finale.
Among the civic groups taking part in the launch are:
- Place des Arts (crafts)
- Evergreen Cultural Centre (crafts)
- Coquitlam Public Library (button making)
- Park Spark
Food trucks will be on site until 9 p.m. to serve warm drinks and snacks; the Rocky Point Ice Cream concession will also serve hot and cold treats.
Lights at Lafarge at Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way) is the biggest free outdoor light fest in Metro Vancouver.
To get to the park, hop on the Millennium Line to the Lafarge Lake–Douglas station terminus.
Meanwhile, Mackin Park (1046 Brunette Ave.) in Maillardville will also be decked out for the holidays.
Visitors are encouraged to use the hashtags #LightsAtLafarge and #ExploreCoquitlam when posting images to social media.
Metro water project
As for the Coquitlam Water Main Project happening along the eastern side of Town Centre Park, Metro Vancouver has cut down trees along Pipeline Road to get ready for the Robson–Guildford section.
"Site preparation will continue through the fall, including storm sewer relocation adjacent to the Inspiration Garden, in the next few weeks," a Metro Vancouver media spokesperson told the Tri-City News.
The excavation and water main installation are expected to start this year.
An open house for the public is scheduled for early next year.
