Jingle Bell Walk to Light Up City Park

Published on: 2010/11/24 - in News

Skating, singing and giving event starts at Springer Market Square

Kingston residents are welcome to “Jingle all the way” from Springer Market Square to light up City Park during the Jingle Bell Walk event next Friday, Dec. 3.

Participants are to gather in Springer Market Square at 6pm for skating to the music of the Kingston Townsmen. The Kingston Brewing Company will be offering free hot chocolate and Santa will be there handing out candy canes.

At 6:30 p.m., Town Crier Chris Whyman will call everyone together to join Santa for a 10-minute tobacco-free Jingle Bell Walk to City Park. Then festive (and energy-saving LED) lights will be lit on 45 trees at 7pm by the Kingston Electric Association’s Shaun McFie and the winner of the ride with Santa email draw.

The ‘Ride with Santa’ draw invited children 6 to 10 years old to enter by sending an email describing their favourite part of the Jingle Bell Walk. The winner of that draw will be posted online December 1 at www.cityofkingston.ca/jingle .

“The entries were so heart-warming and confirm that this annual walk is a wonderful way for families to launch the holiday season.  The children’s emails showed us the Walk is exciting for the kids because it’s active, it’s outdoors and it really makes them feel part of their community,” says Sue Hitchcock, Community Events Coordinator.

Hitchcock also pointed out that KFL&A Public Health, in partnership with Play, Live, Be Tobacco-Free (www.playlivebetobaccofree.ca), are encouraging participants to use the walk to prepare themselves to quit smoking in the New Year.

A booth with information for want-to-be-non-smokers will be set up in the Square.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES

Guests can pick up a free Jingle Bell necklace for the walk by bringing a non-perishable food item or giving a cash donation for the Partners in Mission Food Bank.

The first 100 people to donate $10 to P.R.O. Kids, a City charity that helps all Kingston children access recreational opportunities, will get a battery-operated flickering candle to carry on their walk. Participants are welcomed to bring their own flashlights to light the way and make the walk ‘more magical’.

Money raised through the sponsorships for the lighting of City Park go toward offsetting the costs associated with continuing this event, and any remaining funds are being donated to the Partners in Mission Foodbank and P.R.O. Kids (www.cityofkingston.ca/prokids).

The lights will continue to shine in the park until Saturday, Jan. 29.

For a full list of sponsors go to www.cityofkingston.ca/jingle.

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Photo by Felix Marcus