Entertaining the eager crowd at the Town Hall for the Christmas Light Up was Mrs. Thomson’s delightful Grade 2 class from Oliver Elementary School Choir singing Christmas songs with great enthusiasm.

Festivity was in the air when Mayor Pat Hampson, Area C Director Allan Patton and Chief Louis of the Osoyoos Indian Band welcomed everyone at the Town Hall.  The Christmas Light Up captured the enthusiasm of the residents of Oliver who cheered on the countdown to the Official Light Up 6:00 pm.  But that wasn’t the end – there were activities that included Santa Claus riding through town on the back of a big red fire truck to the delight of the children who followed it down the street.

There was shopping and free holiday treat giveaways all along Main Street with an Oliver Business Passport for everyone to get stamped and signed to be eligible for the Money Tree Draw.  They’re still available at most of the stores downtown and there’s still time to have one filled out by the merchants including the one mystery shop “that smells good”.  The completed passports are to be dropped off at the Oliver Visitor Centre before noon on December 17th for a chance to win one of the three separate draws of $100!

The Oliver Parks and Recreation Entertainment at the Mesa Hotel lot captured everyone’s attention with children’s games and contests, poi spinning by Alyssa Boyt and Christmas songs performed by the South Okanagan Adventist School Choir. The Get Bent Belly Dancing Performance Group had the festive crowd clapping and cheering to the beat of their music.

The Oliver Place Mall was the place to be for children participating in a colouring contest, everyone wanting to vote for their favourite Gingerbread House and for the exited children waiting to sit on Santa’s knee and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.

There was no lack of music since the Osoyoos Indian Band Youth Drummers and Dancers entertained the crowd at Triangle Park and if you wanted you could get your face painted by the Oliver Youth Ambassadors.

The Christmas Light Up captured the enthusiasm of the community with lots of food and fun for everyone including the festive fireworks display that exploded brightly into the air from the Community Park.  Participating members of the community had nothing but praise for the very successful evening of festivities.