Northern Lights Festival Draws More than 4,000 Vehicles

Friday, January 09, 2009 03:50 AM

Prince George, B.C. - Organizers of the Northern Lights Festival are declaring this year's version a success.

Downtown Prince George says the Connaught Hill display drew 4,200 vehicles, carrying an estimated 22,000 passengers.

Downtown merchants sold more than 500 tickets in advance of the event. Advance tickets were going for $8.00 each, so that means about $4,000 dollars in advance sales, plus the $37 thousand garnered from the balance of vehicles at $10 dollars each would see the income from the event in the $41 thousand dollar range.

The budget for the event is nearly 6 times that amount. The budget for this year was $237,600. Of that amount, $77,500 came from sponsorships and admissions from last year’s event. The balance of $160,100 came in the form of “in-kind” donations mostly from the City in the form of labour costs to set up the displays.

There were three events which drew people to the downtown area;

1. the “Poinsettia Parade” series of window displays;

2. three nights where children could visit with Santa at the Northern and

3. the letters to Santa Mail box which had to be moved downtown from Connaught Hill because of vandalism issues.

"This event is becoming a must-see part of the Prince George holiday season", says Jill Moore, of Downtown Prince George. "Downtown merchants sold over 500 tickets in advance and our sponsors were very keen. The committee introduced some great new activities that will be evaluated in time for 2009."

""The Northern Lights Festival is evolving into a popular, family-focused event," says Kirk Gable, Downtown Prince George Interim Chair. "Our members are eager to expand it and make it a seasonal flagship activity for our downtown and community."

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Posted on Friday, January 09, 2009 03:50 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: opion1 on January 9 2009 5:36 AM

Please tell me how the City Of Prince George can justify giving a "in-kind" donation ( and let's not be fooled, this costs the tax payer's money)of over $160,000 to a light festival when some streets in the city limits of Prince George go un-plowed for 4 or 5 days. Our leaders have it all mixed up...yes the lights are lovely to look at...yes they have 1000's of vehicles and occupants visit the displays ( it's up for debate how many of these people would actuly spend time or money in the core of the town) but when we can not provide basic services to the core of the tax payers of this city someone has to stop and say " what are our prioritties? I suggest the City leaders stop spending the tax payers money foolishly and look after what really needs to be looked after,,,safe streets, clean air and proper policing. Enough of the "nice to have" The next thing you know they will want to charge admittion to look at the Xmas lights on the $1,000,000 screen at the empty CN center

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on January 9 2009 7:18 AM

Grinch...

Posted by: realitycheck on January 9 2009 8:51 AM

Math works out to 5.23 persons per vehicle. I have my doubts their numers are correct.

The light are nice but a waste of money IMHO.

Posted by: duffer on January 9 2009 9:09 AM

If people want to see Christmas lights drive around the city. You will see plenty. I agree with opion1 that it is a total waste of money when the money could be going to something more worthwhile.

Posted by: Bridge on January 9 2009 9:39 AM

There appears to be no end to the downlaoding by the business community of tax dollars. When will these people start to work for a living?

Cheers