Christmas lights are going on all around the city. My toddler loves pointing out all the brightly lit houses as we drive by. We tend to get our lights up and on by December 1st, although our backyard tree has been twinkling away for a couple of weeks now. The shorter days can make us all a little grumpy (ok, fine, it might just be me,) but I smile every time I look outside and see our little tree lit up. It's tough when the sun goes down at 4:30 p.m.

Despite the warm and rainy weather we've been having, preparations are underway for Christmas in downtown Ottawa. Crews are busy getting lights ready for the Official Illumination Ceremony on Parliament Hill on December 2nd at 7 p.m. This is a launch that marks the 31st edition of The Christmas Lights Across Canada (CLAC) program*, which will run from December 2, 2015 to January 7, 2016.

The program was launched in 1985 to highlight landmarks along Confederation Boulevard, including Parliament Hill, National Capital Commission (NCC) sites, national museums, institutions, monuments, embassies and other prominent institutions. These beautiful light displays add vibrancy to the Capital during the LONG winter months and kick off the holiday season in Canada’s Capital Region.

In December, most provincial and territorial capital cities hold an illumination ceremony, and I love to think of all the lights going on together across our beautiful country.

Not only will you see the town sprinkled with 100,000 extra lights this year, but there will be a new winter lightscape projection show that will be presented on Parliament buildings every night from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. through until January 7th. Just like the amazing show that gets put on every summer, you will see a projection onto Parliament, including holiday images, lights and enhanced pyrotechnics. The kids will be blown away!

Come join Kids in the Capital on December 2nd as we watch the illumination ceremony together. There will be a large screen which will air holiday wishes from all 13 Premiers and
a performance by Measha Bruggergosman. PLUS, free hot chocolate and Beaver Tails - yum!