Sun Peaks will host Santa's Alpine Visit this weekend.

(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS, SUN PEAKS FILLED WITH HOLIDAY CHEER

KAMLOOPS - Trains, trees, lights and music. The holiday season is now in full swing in Kamloops and there are lots of ways to celebrate the season over the next two weeks.

Wildlights, an annual celebration of lights and animals at the B.C, Wildlife Park, runs from Dec. 12 to Jan. 4. Hundreds of thousands of lights fill the zoo while bonfires, hot cocoa and hot apple cider warm you on your tour. There is also the miniature train, a giant maze, wagon rides ‘to the North Pole’, Uncle Chris the Clown, laser light show and even Obe the Elf sharing the Elf on the Shelf story to round out your night. The event runs every night from 5-9 p.m., except Christmas Day.

This weekend you can take in the First N-O-E-L at the Calvary Community Church. There will be drama, music and desserts Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. and admission is by donation. Heffley Creek Hall is also hosting a Christmas Coffee House with Wilf Bennett on Saturday from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

If you have little ones head down to the BIG Little Science Centre on Saturday to witness some Christmas science tricks. There will be science demonstrations trying to explain Christmas mysteries such as how Santa gets down the chimney at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 13 is also Santa’s Alpine Visit at Sun Peaks. From 3-5 p.m. there will be free family activities, live entertainment, appearances by Kamloops Princess Parties and of course Santa himself will be available for pictures. Story time with the elves, free maple taffy candy making, the dogs of Mountain Man Dogsled Adventures and an outdoor market will fill the village with holiday fun.

The Kamloops Symphony Orchestra will also be hosting songs and carols, violin solos and music from Russia Saturday and Sunday while Sahali Mall will be offering bouncy castles, a craft table, popcorn and hot chocolate, as well as visits with Santa both days. The family fun at Sahali Mall will continue the following weekend as well.

Starting Monday the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will make its way into our region, first stopping at Sicamous at 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 15, then Salmon Arm at 6:30 and Notch Hill at 8 p.m. On Tuesday stops will include Chase at 2:45 p.m., Kamloops at 4:45 p.m., Savona at 7:05 p.m. and Ashcroft at 8:45 p.m. The train will then stop in Lytton on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 12:45 p.m. before continuing to the Lower Mainland. Jim Cuddy and Tracey Brown will be at all the stops and everyone is encouraged to donate food and money towards the local food bank.

On Friday, Dec. 19 the B3 Kings will be performing at St. Andrews on the Square and on Dec. 24 Cirque du Soleil begins five days of performances of Dralion at Interior Savings Centre. Also beginning Dec. 24 is Snow White at The Panto. The Laughing Stock Theatre Society will be presenting the family show Dec. 24-31.

Dec. 22-24 Santa will again be at Sun Peaks to enjoy a pancake breakfast with the families spending their holidays at the resort, and to go skiing and skating as well.

If you don’t have your Christmas tree yet you can head up to Woodward Christmas Trees on Westsyde Road to pick your own. There are also hay rides and a bonfire on the weekends (through Dec. 21) to make it a complete family event. If you want hay rides without the trees The Ranch in Pritchard, Sun Peaks and Walter’s Sleigh Rides all offer sleigh rides during the holidays as well.

For outdoor winter fun like sledding, skating, cross country skiing or snowshoeing, check out our map of where to go in the Kamloops area. Of course, you may have to wait for a bit more snow to fall before you can truly enjoy any of these activities.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014