Airdrie Festival of Lights Society
1701 Main Street S Airdrie, AB, Canada

WAY TO GLOW #Airdrie! Thank you to everyone who registered for our "Lets GET LIT Airdrie" promotion, in partnership with the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce, and Airdrie Parades. We received more than 170 entries, which was simply GLOWing! It was amazing to drive through Airdrie, and see so many homes and businesses that provided some extra light during these challenging times. We are so excited to announce our winners from all the entries received. Residential Category - ...Congratulations to Kelli Ellingson! You’ve won a one-year, family membership to Genesis Place, which was donated to us by our friends at The City of Airdrie. $1,200 Value Business Category - Congratulations to Nose Creek Valley Museum! You’ve won, A complimentary Airdrie Chamber of Commerce Membership - Growth Tier, a $100 Gift card to Woodside Golf Course, a $50 Gift Card to Funky Petals Airdrie, a $50 Gift Card to Cream Body and Bath, a $50 Gift Card to Homegrown House and Pantry Inc., and a $50 Gift Card to ZIVA&EM Boutique. $475 Value. We’ll be sending an email to our winners soon to arrange for pick up of your Prizes. Thanks again to all who participated!

It's time to put everything away for another season, and we need your help! Extra care needs to be taken to protect all the displays, so the more bodies the better! We're also dealing with digging through a LOT of snow to find all our pins for displays. Any and all time is appreciated! We'll be onsite Saturday, January 2 from 9am - 5pm, and then again 9am - 5pm Sunday, January 3rd. Please bring a face covering and warm winter wear, as the winds are chilly today.

To help all our guests prepare for their visit, here are some things you need to know. We have been granted approval from AHS to continue the season as outdoor recreation. However, we are going to NEED the public’s patience, assistance, and cooperation as we implement the changes these new restrictions bring.... As an outdoor, public park, we do not have timed entry. However, we will be placing volunteers at each entrance to control the quantity of people in the park at one time from 6pm - 9pm. Groups are limited to their individual household only. Please don't plan to meet your friends and neighbours here. Provincial guidelines prevent it. If you show up with others, you won’t be able to enter. Please maintain a minimum 2M distancing from others at all times. Bring your masks, or wear a scarf over your face. It’s cold enough, your cheeks will appreciate it! Families will be allowed to enter at 45-60 second intervals, based on capacity limits. If you arrive at 6pm, right when lights turn on, there might be a wait to get in, and it could be as much as 20 - 30 minutes, so dress appropriately, as we finally have some snow and a chill in the air. We are open until 9pm, and several more days in the month giving you lots of opportunity to visit us! When we reach capacity, we will be closing all entrances. The parking lot will also be closed, and you will be asked to come back in 20 or 30 minutes. We invite you to use our GET LIT map to help #GetYourGlowOn and see some the beautifully decorated homes here in Airdrie. https://airdrielights.com/visit/festival-events/ There is no public parking at St Paul's Catholic Church. Once we clear capacity, we will allow new entries from our Main Gate first, and then the other walking pathways as we can, church parking lot entries will be last, and will be advised to come back in 20 minutes, and park in our lot instead. Please, no stopping on the path for photos. Unfortunately this isn't the year. We need to keep traffic flowing. The pond will be closed for skating from 5:30 - 9:00pm every night for the duration. We’re sorry, it’s one of the recommendations from AHS, and out of our control. We will also be closing off the playgrounds, from 6 - 9 pm. The AFOLS is a non-profit, volunteer based organization. Our volunteers are here, so we can keep prices low, and affordable to all. If you’re able, we accept monetary donations to keep the lights GLOWing! We are unable to accept food bank donations as we are not affiliated with the food bank, plus with COVID, we do not have the facilities. When you see our volunteers, feel free to say thank you to them. Most came from their day job tonight to volunteer their time, so we can be open. Speaking of volunteers, we have a great need for more! Even one shift could make a difference! Email, [email protected] to get signed up! And let us say THANK YOU to all of you, working so hard with us, to provide a little light this season. WAY TO GLOW!

While our 25th Season isn't quite what we imagined or hoped it to be, we are grateful to have been able to provide just a little Light on 2020! We'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to those who made it possible! Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy 2021. We're already planning a do-over for next year!

Thursday, December 31 ~ Tonight will be the last of our 25th Season... We expect to be very busy tonight. Please make note of the following guidelines to help us navigate the evening. It is likely you will be waiting in line when you do arrive. Please be patient and kind. Maintain your distance from groups around you. Please consider a face covering for the time you are in the park. Do NOT plan to meet up with people in the park. Once you are in line, you will be exp...ected to enter at your turn, and you won't be able to stop along the pathways. We will be asking if everyone in your group is from the same household, and only allowing one household at a time to enter. RCMP, and By-Law will be onsite at various times this evening, and they will be enforcing the Provincial Guidelines. Please do your part. We need to keep traffic flowing at all times. So, we ask you to mind the people around you, and don't stop for a 100 photos along the way please. You are welcome to travel around the park more than once if you like. We just ask, that you pay attention to the exits. If you exit the park, you will need to re-enter at the entrance line to get back in. If you need to loop, just let our volunteer at the gate know, and they will direct you in the correct direction. The Skating Pond is closed from 5:30 - 9:00 pm. Please leave your skates in your vehicle. Do NOT park at St Paul's Catholic Church. They will be offering a New Year's Eve Service, and the parking lot belongs to them. If we temporarily close the entrances, the Church Pathway will be the last to reopen. Please use our main parking lot only. When we reach capacity, we will be closing the entrance to the park right at Main Street. Please take a 20 minute drive, and then try again. Why not check out some of our GET LIT Airdrie light entries... https://airdrielights.com/visit/festival-events/ Please enjoy your time with us! And know that thousand's of volunteer hours have been given by 100's of volunteers, so we could provide just a little bit of Light this year! #ShareTheGlow #25GLOWingYears #inthistogether

Candy Land ~ Sponsored by Davis Chevrolet GMC Buick LTD, Airdrie! Thank you for your continued support!

Ski Run ~ Sponsored by UFA Co-operative Limited

Poinsettia Arch ~ Sponsored by TELUS

Twelve Days of Christmas - Sponsored by Lanark Landing!

We have a lot GLOWing On this year! Check out this great article from our friends Airdrie Today! #ShareTheGlow #inthistogether #physicaldistancing #safetyfirst

Woodland Fantasy - Sponsored by FortisAlberta! Thanks for Keeping us GLOWing!

P.P.E. Provider ~ Sponsored by McKee Homes!

Don't forget to submit our memories from 25 Years of Family Traditions! When you do, you'll be entered into a draw for an iPad from airdrielife magazine! Feel free to #ShareTheGlow with us too!

Have you been to the Nose Creek Valley Museum recently? This Tuesday, November 17, they will be unveiling their brand new exhibit in honour of the Airdrie Festival of Lights ~ Celebrating 25 Years of Family Traditions! We know the poster says the 15th, however there was a small delay in getting some pieces. We've seen previews and have to say it is simply GLOWing! To thank them, we at AFOLS are offering the FIRST 250 visitors to the exhibit a FREE TRAIN RIDE coupon. Valid for the 2020 Season only. Admission to the museum is by donation right now, making it affordable to all. Be sure to take in some of Airdrie's remarkable history.