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Here are the right times for Saturday’s Light Up the Cove

The fun starts 5:30 pm Saturday night at the Cove
light up the cove volunteer decorators
Basia Lieske, Jewal Maxwell and Cathi Westrop have dedicated hours of volunteer time to transform Snug Cove into a festive seasonal wonderland.

Last week’s Undercurrent had three different times for the Light Up the Cove, for which we apologize. 

We’ve now got the definitive word from on high (aka chief volunteer decorator Basia Lieske) about the schedule.

While the joyful spirit of the pre-pandemic Light Up will be maintained, Basia reminds everyone that two primary components are still on hiatus as a safety precaution. There will be no community procession through the Cove and Santa Claus will not be able to take time out of his busy schedule to be here.

The festivities are concentrated in the grassy area near the USSC Marina boardwalk on Saturday, December 4.

At 5:30 p.m., everyone is invited to join Bowen Island’s Jewish community in lighting the seventh candle of the driftwood menorah. This is the first year that a menorah has been part of the Bowen Children’s Centre and Family Place’s annual Festival of Trees.

There will be sufganiyot (Hanukkah donuts) and perhaps the playing of dreidel.

The second phase of evening’s festivities is slated to begin at 6:30 but people might want to be there by 6:15 just in case there’s an earlier start.

USSC’s Rondy Dike will sound off the canon and the lights of the Festival of Trees will be turned on. This will be co-ordinated with switching on the magical light displays that Basia and her team of volunteers have spent days setting up. Brent Brannon will be on hand to create “magic fog effects.” 

Some of Santa’s friends from the North Pole will be there to hand out candy canes and other Christmas candies. These mascots include Frosty the Snowman and friends, elves, gingerbread men and women and perhaps Rudolph.

In the meantime, the Santa Claus parade is a go. It’s on Sunday, December 12 at 1:30 p.m. It will follow the Bowfest parade route. Volunteers of various sizes who want to dress up in supplied mascot costumes are still needed, as well as people with flatbed trucks. Please contact Basia at lightupbowen@gmail.com.