Bright Nights light display finds new venue in Surrey

Bright Nights will bring light installations to the Surrey Cloverdale Fairgrounds to celebrate the Christmas season. The annual fundraiser will run from Nov. 28 to Dec. 28 as part of the Noel Holiday Light Festival.

For the past 25 years, the display was traditionally at Stanley Park and centred around the Stanley Park train. With train operations suspended this year, Bright Nights is joining Surrey’s second annual Noel Holiday Light Festival.

More than 800 firefighters from across the province volunteer their time to string lights and create installations for the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund (BCPFF).

BCPFF Executive Director Jeff Sauvé says the burn fund was looking for a partner this year so it could fundraise and give people a chance to donate.

“We took an inventory of the province and different events and met with a couple different people,” Sauvé says. “This group at Noel, supported by the City of Surrey, was a perfect match for us.”

The Bright Nights tradition started in the 1980s with Surrey residents Bob Wingfield and Marg Barrett. They created a light display at their house and raised funds for burn survivors by attracting people to take a look at the lights.

“The primary goal of Bright Nights is a fundraiser. We want to raise the necessary funds to support our charitable mission…. There’s a lot of pride in putting on an event that the public enjoys,” Sauvé says. 

He adds it was a great opportunity to continue running Bright Nights — this time with a holiday event.

Besides the light displays, the Noel Holiday Light Festival will offer a stroll around the pond at the Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre, illuminated with lights and feature installations, including a fire truck, red reindeer, and a tunnel of lights.

There is also a Noel Village featuring a Christmas market, food, live music, and a ferris wheel, in addition to firefighters greeting visitors.

The donations raised for the burn fund through the festival will support programs for burn survivors, including the Home Away program.

Home Away provides accommodation for survivors, firefighters, and their families to stay while travelling to Vancouver for treatment. A portion of ticket sales will also go to the burn fund.

“It’s great to see our professional firefighters there and enjoying the Bright Nights display … because these are amazing people who keep us safe,” Sauvé says. “It is a bit of an opportunity for people to thank and support our professional firefighters.”

Sauvé adds he hopes the festival will offer a great night out for families who want to have a festive holiday experience and create a magical evening.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.noelfestival.com.