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13_V1_WAT_Nov30 Th ursday, November 30, 2017 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • 13Serving your community since 1856 CITY LIFE WATERLOO CHRONICLEWATERLOO CHRONICLE AROUND TOWN By Joy Struthers Chronicle Sta� The Wonders of Winter festival of lights is getting ready to brighten up Water-loo Park for the 24th time. There will be more than 100 colourful displays using more than 100,000 light bulbs incorporating new ideas and traditional ones. Volunteer David Hollinger said a lot of things are similar from year to year, but they have new displays each season. "We add things … we have stars in the trees, they are shooting stars and they look really neat, we have balloons up in the trees. We also have a display up in the top corner (of the park) that's a forest scene with jumping deer," Hollinger said. Some things are set up differently due to construction and access to pedestrians, so new lights along pedestrian paths are important. "There are detours along the back and lights on the animal enclosures. We've deco- rated them with sports � gures and Pokemon," he said, and explained a Pokemon could be found there for those playing Pokemon Go. Hollinger is grateful they have more than 50 sponsors that contribute and help them main- tain the displays. "� e one thing that Bill Weiler said when it � rst started is that he wanted it to be free … so everybody has the opportunity to come," Hol- linger said. Donations are welcome, and can be made in cash to volunteers in the park or online at wondersofwinter.ca, but the volunteers stress that they want everyone to come whether they can donate or not. People can also buy hot chocolate, cider or bottled water at Park Inn to support the festival, which will be sold by vol- unteers from local service clubs. Hollinger said it's hard to imagine how many people come through the park, but they calculate through the amount of drink sales that it is between 30,000 and 40,000 visitors. � ere are also the 40,000 people who take the paths to get to work and home each day. Rob Dawson, a volunteer who does promo- tions for the festival said the opening night, and � reworks, will be outstanding. "It's really neat in the wintertime because the sky is so clear and clean," he said. It is also better for younger children because the � reworks start at 6 p.m. Dawson said people enjoy the horse-drawn trolley rides around the park and the school- house plays, which are free. � ey can also visit Santa in the school house for free on Dec. 23. "We haven't done any promotions on it but we're going to show some movies this year," Dawson shared. Sheepdog Productions is presenting mov- ies they made with local children using clay animation. He said all of the people involved are from the local community, but it is only a group of about 12 volunteers who create the light dis- plays. Volunteer Linda Pettus said they are creat- ing memories. "It's really rewarding for me to be volun- teering here. I talk to my children about it and they tell me stories about what they remember as kids coming here," she said. � ey loved everything from talking on the Santa phone to seeing the elves in their work- shops. "It's surprising how many people come up to us to thank us for putting up the displays while we're working on them," Pettus said. Bill Weiler said all of the people involved love what they do. "Without the volunteers there would be nothing here," Weiler said. He has gone through the park many times and overheard volunteers talking to their fami- lies. One said to his grandchildren "see, papa built that" and it was such a thrill for them. He said he has many stories of propos- als and things that have happened during his years at the Wonders of Winter. Weiler explained he still gets emotional over one. "� e biggest story here, I can't tell you how many years ago now, but a lady called and asked if we could turn the lights on early the next night," Weiler said. "I said 'well normally we don't do that because we would get asked all different times to do it.' I asked, 'why do you want them early?' And she said 'last year I came to the park and there was music and the kids were running around, everyone was hav- ing a great time, and I decided against commit- ting suicide.' So I said, 'what time do you want the lights on." For more information visit www.wonder- sofwinter.ca. Wonders of Winter Waterloo Park's annual Christmas light display opens Dec. 2 May Court Club's Christmas Dreams � e May Court Club of KW presents its 28th annual Christmas Dreams Ra� e at Conestoga Mall to Dec. 9. � ere is $23,000 worth of prizes to be won, includ- ing beautifully decorated Christmas trees with all the trimmings. Tickets are available until 1 p.m. on the day of the draw, but they go fast so get yours today. � rough the generosity of its sponsers, the club is able to help programs at KidsAbility, Children's Wish Foundation, Our Place Family Resource and Early Years Centre. For more information about the Christmas Dreams Ra� e, or the May Court Club, visit www.maycourt- clubofkw.org. UpTown Waterloo BIA hosts Holiday Marketplace Dec. 1-3 The UpTown Waterloo Business Improvement Area invites the public to a Holiday Marketplace event throughout UpTown Waterloo on Dec. 1-3. As King Street north of Erb (Erb St. to Bridgeport Rd.) will reopen to two-way vehicular tra� c on Fri- day, the BIA's event will include a variety of holiday- themed activities, as well as in-store promotions and treats from participating businesses, to encourage holiday shopping in UpTown Waterloo. The BIA is offering horse-drawn trolley rides throughout the core from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Families are also invited to visit with Santa in � e Shops at Waterloo Town Square on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Victorian carolers dressed in traditional garb will stroll through UpTown, serenading guests with holi- day classics. Guests can also enter a draw to win $500 UpTown dollars at each participating business. For a full schedule of activities and list of partici- pating businesses, visit the event's webpage www. uptownwaterloobia.com/annual-festivals-events/ uptown-holiday-marketplace/ For parking options in UpTown Waterloo, visit www.waterloo.ca/uptownparking/. JOY STRUTHERS PHOTO Bill Weiler who helped start the Wonders of Wonder with a group of dedicated volunteers, stands in front of one of the displays that will light up this Saturday. YOUR city YOUR news also available online