If you notice a strange glow emanating from Nose Creek Park in Airdrie, you shouldn't call Mulder and Scully to investigate.

That glow is coming from thousands of Christmas lights weaved into fascinating displays at the Airdrie Festival of Lights that threw the switch on another December of spreading the joy of the season.

Michelle Pirzek, the festival's Coordinator says one thing is a relief this year.  The festival is on a much more solid financial ground than in 2016 when there were fears that they wouldn't be able to go on.

"Were in a much better position.  The community spoke and we listened and they stepped up huge.  Donations came in regardless of whether we were open or closed, so we appreciated that.  We've spent the off-season re-looking at our business plan and strategic plan moving forward and we think we're in pretty good shape.  We expect to be here for another 20 years because that's what the community is telling us right now.  That's what they want."

Pirzek says one of the highlights for festival-goers this year will be the Canada 150 Legacy Path that was erected to mark Canada's birthday.

"We've lit up the entire back path, all the way from the totem poles straight to the church parking lot with red and white arches so that's going to be our Canada 150 Legacy Path.  It's bright and fresh and red and white and beautiful for Canada's 150th birthday."

Last year, the volunteer group re-wired many of the displays but ran out of time to get to all of them.  While Pirzek says they still haven't completed the task, they've made some significant progress on it.  

"We do have Penguin Village, it's brand new spanky fresh for this year so we're excited to have that one complete.  We were able to get some of the larger displays complete as well. We do have a few left.  They're mostly filler types, so lots of stars, lots of snowflakes, that sort of things.  We're pretty pleased with the progress we've made considering we're all volunteers.  I think people will be happy."

The festival runs nightly from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm throughout December. 

The first two nights were jam-packed with the Tree of Hope for the Airdrie Hospice Society being lit on Friday and the Chinook Gate Family Night last night.  

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