For the first time, the Township of 91原创 is hosting the annual Williams Park light drive-through light display in its entirety beginning Dec. 9. 

Now called 'Holiday Lights in Williams Park,' the Township took over the annual display earlier this year from the volunteer-run Christmas in Williams Park Society. 

The event remains free and will feature more than 150,000 lights and festive displays. 

Donations will be collected for the Aldergrove Food Bank via credit or debit card during the event nights. 

New this year, visitors can book ahead to experience the display via drive-through, a Township spokesperson told The Star in an unsigned email.

To attend the light display, people interested must register in advance online at . 

Residents of the 91原创 Township can register starting Friday, Nov. 22 at noon. Registration opens to non-residents the following Friday, Nov. 29 at noon. 

Tickets will be booked in 30-minute increments. Only one person per vehicle needs to register. 

In May, the council voted to take over the event from the volunteer society that ran it for 33 years. 

Council voted to spend $250,000 this year in startup and staffing costs to run the annual event, which lights up the rural park with Christmas decorations and inflatables for visitors during December every year.

Barb Sharp, president of Christmas in Williams Park Society, had told Black Press Media at the time that the decision was a "complete ambush." 

The society knew there would be a staff report coming forward at the May 13 meeting about the annual event, but Sharp said they had no advance warning that staff would be recommending the Township take over the event entirely.

During the society鈥檚 discussions with Township staff earlier this year, ameliorating traffic back ups had been the major discussion point. The society was looking to put a ticketing system in place, along with other traffic control measures to deal with it.

But council ultimately voted six to three for an option that includes spending $140,000 for new lights, plus $110,000 this year for operational costs, for an entirely Township-run version of the event.

Last year the event almost wasn鈥檛 held when the Township considered withholding staff support, but that October the council voted unanimously to allocate $50,000 worth of staff time for the effort.

Williams Park is located at 68 Avenue and 238 Street. 

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