Light Up Okotoks is ready to bring holiday cheer to downtown Okotoks.

The event takes place Friday with a variety of activities and late night shopping to get residents into the Christmas spirit.

Last year Light Up saw about 20,000 people take part.

Mark Doherty, community events coordinator for the Town, says there'll be an Okotoks GM candy lane at Olde Towne Plaza as well as plenty of other activities.

"We've got a few surprises, one of the popular ones we started last year is our s'mores station and they're preparing about 3,500 s'mores for the kids for the free, and I can't emphasize enough the support we get from the community and the business circle. Really without that we can't do these events and continue to grow them."

Stores will be open for shopping, over 20 fire pits will be set up, wagon rides will take place throughout downtown, and many other activities are planned as well.

Light Up also supports a lot of not-for-profit groups and residents are asked to bring donations for the Okotoks Food Bank.

Doherty says they're asking parents who are bringing their children to take a photo of them for safety purposes.

"Typically we do have some lost parents and children just due to the nature of the event being at night and the sheer volume of people," he explains. "So if you can take a picture of your child and if you do get separated we have our command trailer and excellent emergency practices in place. We've never lost anybody, we've always found them, but we have had some bad descriptions of what the kids were wearing."

The command centre will be set up beside the Municipal Centre.

Live entertainment will take place at Olde Towne Plaza at 6 before the official welcoming from Okotoks Council starts at 6:50 p.m. The lighting of the tree will happen at 7 with music from the Foothills Philharmonic Orchestra. Fireworks are scheduled for 9.

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