MAHONE BAY - The catchphrase of the day might be "let there be light," as the seventh annual Father Christmas Festival kicks off in Mahone Bay November 25.

 Spokeswoman Vicki Bardon says the opening evening's festivities begin at 7 p.m. with the ceremonial lighting of the town Christmas tree which will take place at the bandstand.

 "Everybody is to come with some kind of a lantern that they've made themselves, from jars or cans or whatever," Ms Bardon explains. "Father Christmas will have a wonderful lantern and he, the mayor and the Mouse Choir will lead all the townsfolk and visitors from the bandstand to the Mahone Bay Centre where they will gather in the gym for cocoa, cookies and carols."

 Members of the Mahone Bay Legion Swing Band will be on hand to provide the music, and the facility will be seasonally decorated for the occasion.

 "People can have their pictures taken with Father Christmas for a loonie, and they will then be sent off by e-mail to them," Ms Bardon says.

 Once again this year Nova Scotia Power Inc. will be sponsoring a light exchange at the bandstand where participants bring two sets of older Christmas lights and exchange them for one new set of energy-efficient LED lights.

 The festival, which runs for two weeks, includes a variety of activities for young and old alike, and features over 65 life-size Father Christmas figures.

 For more information visit http://www.mahonebay.com/.

posted on 11/23/11