Tree-lighting ceremony officially opens $1.5M Bright Lights Windsor festival
CBC News | Posted: December 9, 2017 1:36 AM | Last Updated: December 9, 2017
Free event runs from Dec. 8 to Jan. 7
Alexa, turn on the Christmas tree!
With a shoutout to Windsor and Detroit's joint-bid for Amazon's HQ2, Mayor Drew Dilkens called on a "special guest," the company's popular digital assistant Alexa, to illuminate a massive tree coated in lights at the heart of Jackson Park's $1.5 million holiday lights display.
The Bright Lights Windsor festival is officially open.
The flashing colours along the 20-metre tree drew gasps and squeals of delight from a crowd of thousands who gathered to watch the kick off ceremony.
"It's one of the best trees in the world," said Dilkens, who estimated it cost the city about $400,000. "You just look around here, look at the people that are here. There's a great excitement in the community about this festival."
The event will run from Dec. 8 to Jan. 7 and is free of charge.
"At the tail end of the year where we're celebrating our 125th birthday, we wanted this to be a capstone event and a legacy project," the mayor explained. "Now that we've made an investment in the items in the park, you will see them next year and in future years."
Dilkens also had a simple message for any detractors.
"Just come and see it. You'll be impressed."