Fort Saskatchewan celebrates the start of the holiday season with Lights Up!, a free family evening at City Hall.

Inside the library, kids can get their faces painted, sit for a caricature, watch the model train display and have their picture taken with Santa. Outside, there’s a holiday petting zoo, ice carving, fire shows, a fire truck and fire pits for warming up. Costumed characters roam throughout for photos, and cookies and hot chocolate are served at Pioneer House, with gluten-free and nut-free options.

The evening builds to a choir performance on the City Hall veranda, the mayor reading ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, and a countdown to the big light-up.

Lights Up! in Fort Saskatchewan