Houston Lights Up...			...For Christmas
			by Debi Osborne

If Houston's Steelhead Park is the pride of the community, then the annual Christmas Light-Up must be the icing on their cake. It was started in 1989 as a way to inspire local community spirit during the Holiday Season. Now in its twelfth year, the Houston Light-Up is a source of warmth and wonder cherished by many far beyond the town boundaries.

use BACK button to return Christmas Light Up

In the beginning it was a tree campaign and was dubbed the "Community Christmas Project" by the Chamber of Commerce. It was a fitting idea for Houston, the 1999 Forestry Capitol of BC. The Chamber had few funds to put toward the project and began an "Adopt-A-Tree" program, asking for donations from businesses and individuals. For $25 you could sponsor one sand-potted-tree-in-a-barrel, complete with lights, placed somewhere along the highway that runs through Houston. Over 100 sponsors participated and 300 trees were placed.

use BACK button to return The Chamber of Commerce started it all (Houston fly rod in background)

Coordinating with the Houston Merchants Association and their Annual Midnight Madness sale, the Chamber held the first Light-Up Ceremony on December 6, 1989 and received an overwhelming response. A great crowd of people braved the brisk weather to stand in the darkness, waiting for the switch to be thrown, and then enjoyed a hot cup of chocolate and an unorchestrated carole or two. Buttons that said "I Love Houston At Christmas" were handed out and rumor has it that Santa stopped for a visit.