The holiday season is upon us and with it the halls of the Legislature will abound with boughs of holly, the grounds will be festively lit and the sounds of the season will ring out from the rotunda.
“An annual holiday tradition since 1985, Celebrate the Season attracts thousands of visitors to Alberta’s centre of democracy to enjoy festive sights and sounds against the stunning backdrop of our historic Legislature Building,” said the Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. “Gathering with friends and family to embrace holiday traditions is the best way to get into the spirit of the season.”
This year the 20 days of Celebrate the Season will feature over 50 choirs and 300 festively lit trees. The almost month-long event commences December 4 with the heavily anticipated Legislature Light-up. Join Members of the Legislative Assembly in the rotunda at 4 p.m. for a live performance by the U of A Mixed Chorus and stay to experience the stunning display when the Premier ceremoniously switches on the more than 125,000 holiday lights strung throughout the grounds. The grand holiday tree, centerpiece of the north grounds, will be a white spruce from Edson, Alberta, standing 60 feet tall and adorned with 5,000 lights.
From the Edmonton Philharmonic Orchestra to the Precious Gems Children’s Choir, free holiday entertainment will run daily at noon and in the evenings beginning at 6 p.m. from December 4 through December 23. Professional, amateur and school choirs alike will perform beautiful renditions of everyone’s favourite holiday tunes. Free hot chocolate will be served nightly and skating on the south grounds rink will provide the perfect vantage point from which to view the lit grounds.
The full choir schedule is online at assembly.ab.ca.