Prince George, B.C. – It’s full steam ahead for staff at the Railway and Forestry Museum in Prince George as they prepare for the public opening of their annual Christmas season display next Thursday.

The curator and Events and Volunteer Co-ordinator at the museum, Katherine Carlson, says the Celebration of Lights will be running from December 18^th to 23^rd from 4 to 8 pm and on Christmas Eve from 2 until 6pm. Carlson says “normally we would have about 20-thousand lights set up and with the addition of the lights from the Connaught Hill (Northern Lights Display) that almost triples the amount of lights that we’ll have this year and that addition will make it really spectacular.”

She says “we’ll have Santa and Mrs Claus here from the 18^th through to the 22^nd, on the 23^rd we’ll have Santa, and then each day we have entertainment, choirs and local musicians singing and performing Christmas songs. We’ll have the bonfire going outside as well as the train rides, and then you can actually get out and walk around through the lights, and with the train ride you get to see a different perspective of the lights. If you are not one to go on the train ride you still get to see a spectacular light show.”  As well don’t forget to venture upstairs at the museum to have a look at the fantastic village display that’s been put together.

Carlson says about fourteen volunteers contributed their time and effort to assist in putting up the light display which was moved from Connaught Hill to the museum this year. She says there is still some stringing of lights to be completed before the opening next Thursday so anyone who would like to help out would be more than welcome to turn out on Tuesday to finish things off.

By the way, local MLAs Shirley Bond and Mike Morris are inviting families to the Railway and Forestry Museum Sunday afternoon.  Holiday Fun For The Family includes hot dogs, hot chocolate, cookies, entertainment, activities for the kids, the miniature train AND a visit by Santa and Mrs Claus.

There is absolutely no charge for families to come out and enjoy the kick-off to the Christmas holiday season.  It starts at 3 pm tomorrow and runs till 6.