Victoria Park Christmas lights set to shine bright this Friday

The City of London will kick off its annual “Lighting of the Lights” at Victoria Park on Friday evening, and the city is inviting everyone to partake in the holiday fun.
According to a press release from the City of London, live entertainment will begin at 6:15 p.m., with the official countdown to the lighting of the entire park beginning at 6:50 p.m. on Friday.
“Lighting of the Lights is a longstanding tradition dating back to 1958 that marks the official start of the holiday season in London,” said Mayor Josh Morgan in a statement. “My family and I are looking forward to seeing Victoria Park transform into a winter wonderland, illuminated with festive lights and displays for Londoners to enjoy through the holiday season. We hope to see you there!”
With 75,000 lights illuminating the park daily from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and lasting until the end of February, Victoria Park will truly transform into a magical winter wonderland.
Other displays include Santa and his reindeer, the Christmas train and snowmen family. Santa’s mailbox will also be in the park for children who want to mail their wish list to the North Pole.
In addition, the observation deck at London City Hall will once again reopen for public viewing at the following dates and times.
- Friday, December 2 to Sunday, December 4 from 7 to 11 p.m.
- Thursday, December 8 to Sunday, December 11 from 7 to 11 p.m.
- Thursday, December 15 to Sunday, December 18 from 7 to 11 p.m.
- Thursday, December 22 to Friday, December 23 from 7 to 11 p.m.
- Thursday, December 29 to Friday, December 30 from 7 to 11 p.m.
What else can Londoners do downtown this holiday season?
People can visit the Holly Jolly Market, located at Covent Garden Market, where Londoners can partake in local food vendors, live music and entertainment, light displays, a hot chocolate station, and fire pits.
The unique indoor/outdoor market will be opened on Friday until 10 p.m., and will be welcoming people for the next three weeks.
But that’s not all. Weather permitting, the outdoor skating rink at Victoria Park will be opened on Dec. 9, so get ready to lace up your skates.
“It will be a December to remember in downtown London, with large-scale events including the Holly Jolly Market, Lighting of the Lights and New Year’s Eve in the Park as well as small-scale activations including musical performances and art crawls taking place throughout December,” the release reads.
To learn more, you can visit the Downtown for the Holidays website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'We're going to work flexibly' with provinces and territories on setting terms of health funding deals: Duclos
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos insists the federal government is going to 'work flexibly' with the provinces on the terms of a possible health-care funding deal and avoid 'micromanaging' how they deliver health care to Canadians.

Canadian police chiefs speak out on death of Black man beaten by U.S. officers
Canadian police chiefs condemned on Friday the death of a Black man who was savagely beaten by police during a traffic stop in the United States, saying the officers involved must be held accountable.
How to get over the 'mental hurdle' of being active in the winter
When the cold and snow have people hunkering down, these outdoor enthusiasts find motivation in braving the Canadian winter through community and sport.
Memphis police disband unit that beat Tyre Nichols
The Memphis police chief on Saturday disbanded the unit whose officers beat to death Tyre Nichols as the nation and the city struggled to come to grips with video showing police pummelling the Black motorist.
Hearing testimonies from e-cigarette users may deter students from vaping: study
According to a new study, showing university students the health risks of vaping through experts and personal testimonies can help deter them from using e-cigarettes.
Health Canada sticks with Evusheld despite U.S. FDA dropping the COVID drug
Health Canada says it will continue to recommend COVID-19 prevention drug, Evulsheld, despite U.S. FDA pulling back its emergency use authorization due to concerns around its efficacy against Omicron subvariant 'Kraken.'
Germany won't be a 'party to the war' amid tanks exports to Ukraine: Ambassador
The German ambassador to Canada says Germany will not become 'a party to the conflict' in Ukraine, despite it and several other countries announcing they'll answer President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's pleas for tanks, possibly increasing the risk of Russian escalation.
B.C. toxic drug crisis: Fewer 911 calls as deaths continue
BC Emergency Health Services saw a slight decline in 911 calls for overdose and drug toxicity last year, but some areas saw a dramatic increase, and the death rate doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
W5 EXCLUSIVE | Interviewing a narco hitman: my journey into Mexico's cartel heartland
W5 goes deep into the narco heartland to interview a commander with one of Mexico's most brutal cartels. W5's documentary 'Narco Avocados' airs Saturday at 7 pm on CTV.