No Northern Lights Festival This Year

By 250 News

It was billed as a winter festival that would be a tourism draw.  It was to be a festival of "Northern Lights" held  over a six week period from  December through Mid January. It was supposed to light up Connaught Hill Park  this year.

It isn’t going to happen, at least not this year.

Northern Lights Festival Committee spokesperson Kathy Lachman told Prince George City Council there just wasn’t enough prep time between funding approval ( June of 2006) and the proposed light up date of December 1st 2006.  Instead, the committee plans to put the project over to a  light up dayte of December 1st 2007.  The extra time will be put to good use says Lachman, it will give the committee time to  

• make sure there is proper infrastructure on Connaught Hill,  
• hire a  coordinator in January of 2007
• improve the sponsorship program
• develop marketing materials,
• recruit volunteers

The revised  business plan calls for a drive-thru display as well as  a Winter Wonderland area that will  have an outdoor rink, music,  warm drinks and food.

The Committee says capital expenses of just over $98 thousand  are a one time grant from the City,

Revenue is expected to be about $97 thousand, and operational expenses  are pegged in the $71 thousand dollar range.    The balance between operational costs and revenue will be put towards additional light displays for the  following year.  

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