By Himat Grewal/Special to Aldergrove Star

The holiday season officially kicks off this weekend in downtown Aldergrove with the annual treelighting festivities.

Complete with carolling, children鈥檚 activities, storytelling by Mrs. Claus, and of course the treelighting in the centre of town, it truly is the commencement of the festive season, said Alyssa Nielsen, chair of the Aldergrove Christmas committee.

The treelighting event is running 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 26 in the plaza at 272nd Street and Fraser Highway (where the Alder Inn formerly stood), and attendees can expect activities that the entire family can enjoy, said Nielsen.

鈥淭here will be lots of fun and small-town magic,鈥� said the Aldergrove entertainer who will be channeling Mrs. Claus for the event.

Activities include writing and sending letters to Santa for special delivery to the North Pole. Mrs. Claus will be there to reading a Christmas story, singing Christmas carols, and lighting the tree.

There will also be other fun characters around the Aldergrove Plaza helping participants enjoy all the magic of the season, she said.

For instance, attendees can help themselves to complimentary hot chocolate provided by Alliance Concrete Pumps, and cookies and candy canes courtesy of FreshCo Aldergrove, noted Cashmere Roder, president of the Aldergrove Community Association.

鈥淲e are thankful for all our sponsors who help us make all these activities, food, and events free of charge for community members,鈥� Roder added.

Last year鈥檚 event was a resounding success, said Nielsen. Therefore, it was important for organizers to provide the ceremony for its second iteration.

鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to have these events that bring our local community together,鈥� she added.

鈥淭here were about 200 people who came to last year鈥檚 event, but we are expecting more this year,鈥� she said.

The treelighting is the first of three Christmas-themed activities presented by the Aldergrove Christmas committee, in partnership with the Aldergrove Business Association, Aldergrove Community Association, and Aldergrove Agricultural Fair and Festival Association.

On Dec. 16, there will be a community Christmas party followed by the Aldergrove Light Up Christmas Parade, which has been taking place downtown for approximately 30 years.

鈥淲e are very thankful to the Township of 91原创 for helping us with all these events,鈥� said Karen Long, president of the fair association.

鈥淎s of today, we have 22 entries for the parade, so we still have openings for participants who wish to enter. It can be a business with a float or even a family who wants to enter with Christmas lights on their vehicle,鈥� she added.

Participants eager to enter the parade can send an email to info@aldergrovefair.ca.

Providing all these activities has been possible with the hard work and organization of a squad of dedicated volunteers, said Jodi Steeves, president of the business association.

鈥淲e have been super busy getting this all together and just been organizing every day in group texts,鈥� Steeves explained, expressing thanks to their volunteers, too.

Volunteers for the treelighting are sourced in part from the Aldergrove Youth Soccer Club and Aldergrove Skating Club.