The City of New Westminster is inviting folks to unite in the glow of Shine Bright 2023.
Shine Bright New West features creative activities, cultural experiences and illuminated outdoor spaces. It runs from Dec. 1 to 31 in neighbourhoods across New Westminster.
“With a mix of beloved traditions and new experiences, there are over 40 opportunities taking place all over the community,” said Lisa Kemp, the city’s acting recreation supervisor. “There is something for everyone.”
Kemp said two new additions to this year’s Shine Bright New West lineup are among the event’s highlights.
This year’s program kicks off on Friday, Dec. 1 with a lighting ceremony for the Wishing Tree in Moody Park. The tree lights up magically with every wish made and generates a $10 donation towards the protection of parkland in B.C.
“We are so excited about this new partnership with the BC Parks Foundation. We heard about their wishing tree project in 2022 and have been actively working with them ever since to bring this unique opportunity to New Westminster,” Kemp said. “The community will be able to support a great cause by making free wishes. There are three ways to wish: you can make a wish online or at the tree by writing your wish on a wishing tag and hanging it on a wishing tree sapling or by sharing your wish by speaking to the tree.”
The Wishing Tree lighting ceremony takes place in Moody Park on Friday, Dec. 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. This all- ages event includes free giveaways, warm beverages, fire pits and live entertainment. The Wishing Tree will be on display in Moody Park until Jan. 28, 2024.
Another new addition to this year’s Shine Bright New West is the Snowflake Spectacular, which takes place in the Uptown Plaza (at Sixth and Belmont streets) on two Fridays – Dec. 8 and 15 – from 5 to 8 p.m. Community members are invited to visit Uptown Plaza for “an interactive pop-up snowflake wonderland” featuring live performances of music and dance, a giant magical snow globe, special snowflake activities, and much more! This free event is barrier-free to the public.
During Shine Bright New West, civic spaces across the city will be adorned with festive lights. Here are some of the light displays you’ll find around town:
- Shine Bright Downtown takes place in Hyack Square and throughout the downtown until Jan. 31, 2024. Presented by the Downtown New West Business Improvement Association, it includes light installations in the downtown, including a light tunnel in Hyack Spare.
- Festive Lights at Hyack festival Association runs from Dec. 1 to 10 at Hyack’s office at 204 Sixth St. Take a photo of the festive lights, enter it in an Instagram contest, and see if your name is drawn on Dec. 11 for a gift basket filled with Hyack Festival merchandise.
- Gardens of Light, running until Jan. 31, includes light displays at Tipperary Park, Friendship Gardens, Moody Park, the plaza at the main branch of the New Westminster Public Library, Queen’s Park, the entrance to Ryall Park and Queensborough Community Centre, Sapperton Plaza and the waterfront esplanade. Folks are encouraged to tag @newwestrec when sharing photos on social media.
Artist Nickie Lewis’s mythical creatures and sculptures, created from materials found in local parks, green waste and natural jute twine, are once again a part of this year’s event, with Winston the Walrus in Moody Park, Harriet the Hedge Hog in Sapperton Plaza and Suzy the Squirrel in Queen’s Park near the Sportsplex. They’ll be on display in these locations until Jan. 31, 2024.
“Her sculptures are a community favourite, and she has included an opportunity for community members to share stories when they visit the sculptures,” Kemp said of Storytelling Sculptures.
Along with some returning Shine Bright New West favourites, there are some new additions to this year’s offerings – including a new Parol Christmas Star Lantern Display in the New Westminster City Hall foyer. Presented by the Filipino-Canadian Society for International Arts and Events and the New Westminster Philippine Festival Society, the display features a display of parols – lanterns that are a Filipino holiday tradition whose history dates back to the Spanish colonial era.
“Shine Bright New West is made possible thanks to the support of 12 community partners,” Kemp said. “We were so pleased that longtime partners were eager to partner again this year. We have also focused on building relationships with other community organizations that have joined in on the campaign.”
Shine Bright New West 2023 is sponsored by Arts New West, BC Parks Foundation, Downtown New West BIA, Filipino-Canadian Society for International Arts and Events, Fraser River Discover Centre, Hyack Festival Association, New West Family Place, Small Stage, Tourism New West, Queensborough Special Programs Committee, Uptown Business Association and Uptown Swing Collective.
The Downtown New Westminster Business Association is kicking off the return of Shine Bright Downtown with an event at Fraser River Discovery Centre featuring brief speeches, holiday music, activities and hot drink (by donation with proceeds going to Don’t Go Hungry: A Food Support Program). It’s on Friday, Dec. 1 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Fraser River Discovery Centre, 788 Quayside Dr.
Downtown New Westminster will once again be aglow with lights as part of Shine Bright, with festive lighting installations being set up in Hyack Square and throughout the downtown. Shine Bright Downtown also features Downtown Shop Nights on the evenings of Dec. 7, 14 and 21, when shoppers can enjoy the lighting installations in the neighbourhood, take part in Instagram contests, donate to local causes and shop at local retailers.
The City of New Westminster is encouraging residents to continue the Shine Bright New West experience at home by setting up their own holiday light displays, and participating in Tourism New West’s Instagram contest for a chance to win a Shine Bright prize pack.
Kemp said contest information will announced on Dec. 1, and folks can follow @tourismnewwest on social media to get all of the details.
In addition to light displays, Shine Bright New West includes a wide variety of activities. These include cultural events, a family movie night, a Winter Solstice art exhibition, a Winter Wonderland at the New Westminster Public Library, a family skate, A Solstice S’mores event for youths, and tours of Irving House, a Victorian home decorated for the holidays.
A full list is available on the event’s webpage.
“The City of New Westminster is committed to fostering a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging,” said Mayor Patrick Johnstone. “Shine Bright is a welcoming and inclusive event that brings people together to celebrate the season and experience our natural spaces in a new light.”
Now in its fourth year, Shine Bright New West has a number of awards: a Creative Cities of Canada Cultural Events Award in October 2022 and the British Columbia Parks and Recreation Association – Festivals and Events Excellence Award in May 2022. The Downtown BIA received the Special Events Programming Excellence from BIABC (Business Improvement Areas of BC) in May 2021.
