Mark your calendar! Light up the Square is coming soon on December 5 from 4 to 7PM. As usual, this free community event is jammed full of seasonal entertainment, fun arts and craft activities and demonstrations, delectable delicacies, lively music and much more. This year, The Taa Daa Lady, Angela Brown garbed in her delightful elf costume, MCs the event, and will lead you through a variety of activities and introduce the fabulous line up of talented entertainers we have in store.

At 4PM, be sure to take part in our lantern making workshop and make the perfect torch to light your way on the lantern and song procession that begins at 5:30PM. Place des Arts teacher Teresa Richert will provide festive background music with seasonal piano tunes and original compositions.

At 4:30PM, cross over to Musée Mackin Museum and hear Norma Charles reading from her children's books Boxcar Kid and Chasing a Start. This well-known local author has been entertaining children of all ages for years, bringing to life stories inspired by growing up in Maillardville.

Entertainment by Place des Arts' own singing students fills the centre at 5PM. These young cuties will sing fun Christmas classics and show tunes.

Their festive sounds will set the mood for Les Échos du Pacifique who will lead the rousing sing along/lantern procession throughout Carré Heritage Square. Grab your lantern and get set to light up the night in grand promenade style and watch as the brand new lighting display brings the square alive with bright holiday colours.

Wrapping up the event, the clowns of G2 present Sharing Christmas, a bilingual (English and French)musical adventure that explores the importance of friendship and sharing. Bring the kids and discover the heart of Christmas through this touching, yet fun, theatrical spectacle.

Throughout the event, you can take part in a variety of arts and crafts activities, including cookie decorating, home-made wrapping paper and imaginative gift bags. Watch as local artisan Riek Ruys demonstrates her knitting techniques and be sure to purchase her ever-popular preserves before she sells out. Glass artist Josée Carrière will also be on hand, demonstrating glass bead making.

If you're looking for that jolly elf, you might be surprised to see him as his French alter ego, Père Noël! He'll attend Light up the Square, bringing love and laughter to all.

As usual, the Noël Café will be open, offering French Canadian traditional delicacies: tortiere and tartes au sucre along with a variety of non-alcoholic beverages. Adults can celebrate the start of the holidays with a sip of fine wine, Bailey's with hot chocolate or mulled wine available at the cash bar.

Light up the Square is a free community event hosted by Place des Arts, Musée Mackin Museum and Gare de Fraser Mills Station. We feel it embodies the true spirit of the season, bringing the whole community together with fun family activities, high-quality entertainment and delicious food. Won't you join us for the fun?