The annual Celebration of Lights event at the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum gets its shining start on Wednesday, Dec. 18 and goes until Dec. 27.
There are more than 100,000 lights glowing through the park and the best seat in the house is on the Cottonwood Minirail Express that shows off the entire light display.
The lights have been collected over the years and those who remember the Connaught Hill light display will be happy to hear they have found a new home at the museum on River Road.
The Celebration of Lights starts off with a charitable boost to St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Fire Pit as entry into the park on Wednesday is by donation of a non-perishable food item.
All proceeds from the last by-donation event at Halloween was so successful it took two trucks to get more than 2,500 items packed up and shipped over to the non-profits who feed the most vulnerable community members in the heart of downtown Prince George.
After the admission-by-donation day, entry is by regular admission because it's the Railway Museum's major fundraiser of the year and the money raised during the Celebration of Lights will go to operating costs for the non-profit society who runs it. There were about 5,000 people who visited the sight during the holiday season last year and the same numbers are expected this year.
Visitors are in for a real treat when they find their way into the tree-lined bistro to listen to live music by a variety of entertainers like choirs, duets and instrumentalists who are all volunteering to perform during the celebration. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be making surprise appearances throughout the event.
Moving into the gift shop, guests can browse through a variety of items, including those being sold by other non-profit organizations who are looking to raise funds for their causes including handmade knitwear with proceeds going to the Kordyban Lodge and the two editions of the books written by Kathy Nadalin called People of Prince George, with all proceeds going to the Prince George Community Foundation. There are also a variety of items created by local artisans, train-themed treasures including conductor's hats, Thomas the Tank Engine items and Railway Museum schwag all waiting to be purchased in time for Christmas giving.
One step beyond the gift-shop door people walk right out into a unique winter wonderland filled with delightful images and glowing lights. There are bigger-than-life happy elf-faces, a true to life Hallmark old red truck with the expected Christmas tree in the back. Penny Station is fully decorated this year, inside and out, as well as some of the train cars.
"Penny station is decorated like it would have been 100 years ago," Nadine Fieber, event coordinator at the museum.
There's an extensive Christmas miniature village to be explored in the school house on the museum site.
"I am sure we have the biggest Christmas village display in town," Fieber said. "Every year we change up the landscape and this year it's a huge mountain with villages built around it. We have more than 500 houses that were donated to us years ago and we haven't used them all because we ran out of space but the display is very impressive."
After all the adventures there's a few food options available for those who have worked up an appetite. Guests can roast hot dogs and make s'mores over a bonfire or get a meal from the concession for purchase and to ride the minirail it's $3 for each person.
Huble Homestead will be on site Dec. 20 to do a children's Christmas craft for free and there will be face painting for purchase while Gingy the mascot from Gingerbread Toys will visit Dec. 20 and 21.
For more information and a detailed schedule of events visit www.pgrfm.bc.ca.
