The COVID-19 pandemic didn鈥檛 stop the Western Development Museum from going ahead with Light Up the Village 2020.
In fact, organizers increased the number of lighted displays and expanded hours from weekends to all week long.
It began Dec. 1 and will carry on to Jan. 9, 2021, with the gates open to the general public for driving tours from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each night, except statutory holidays.
Admission is $10 per car (maximum of five guests from the same household聽or your 鈥渂ubble鈥�). New this year is a season pass for $30 allowing families to come and tour as many times as they like. The WDM can also accept debit or credit card at the admission gate this year.聽聽
鈥淲e鈥檙e extremely happy with the turn out this year, from sponsors as well as visitors,鈥澛爏ays Shirley Maze, Light Up the Village co-ordinator. 鈥淧lans are already underway for next year.鈥�
The WDM opened the village in the winter for the first time in 2017. The public seemed to enjoy it, so they decided to continue, says Maze.
鈥淚聽believe聽driving through the village聽in the winter聽took people back to a simpler time and was nostalgic for many.鈥澛�
In the second聽year, the WDM approached a few businesses to see if they would help decorate some of the buildings and they provided the lights and d茅cor to do this.聽
鈥淭his helped a great deal to make it a bigger appeal to our visitors,鈥� says Maze.
In 2019聽the museum was able to add more lights and more businesses came forward voluntarily to help out.聽2020 came along and聽they had high hopes of making it even bigger and better.聽When the pandemic hit, the WDM had to cancel public events, adjust hours and institute provincial safety guidelines at all its locations, but because it was an outdoor event, Light Up the Village remained a bright light to look forward to in the winter season.
Maze says, 鈥淚n the spring when businesses had to close due to COVID-19 and聽so many public聽events were cancelled, this was one that we were very happy to be able to go forward with.鈥�
With an appeal to the community, the show could not only go on, but it could be even bigger and better.
鈥淭his is the first聽time we asked for financial support and are extremely happy with the response from our sponsors. With this help we have been able to聽add many new displays,鈥� say Maze.
Saskatchewan Health Regulations must be adhered to by everyone attending this event.聽聽
All聽net proceeds聽from Light Up the Village go to restoration and repairs needed in the Heritage Village.
