Light Up Okotoks, the Town’s annual holiday festival, has been named a finalist in the 2025 Canadian Event Awards for Best Event for a City or Municipality, standing proudly alongside large urban centers like Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton.
For 32 years, this cherished holiday tradition has transformed Okotoks into a real-life Hallmark movie scene, with twinkling lights, sounds of carolers, glowing firepits, and more than 15,000 people gathering downtown for the much-anticipated lighting of the Town Christmas tree and dazzling fireworks finale.
“It’s more than just lights and music – it’s a celebration of who we are as a community,” said Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn. “Being named a finalist alongside Canada’s largest cities shows that our small but vibrant community can shine just as bright.”
An Event That Captures the Spirit of the Season
Bringing Light Up Okotoks to life each year is no small feat. It takes 120 staff members, 50 volunteers, 60 sponsors and local businesses,12 local entertainers and choirs, and 500 hours of planning.
Every detail is thoughtfully planned to create a memorable holiday experience for our community,” said Connie Drake, community events specialist for the Town of Okotoks. “From horse-drawn wagon rides along the lit-up river valley to the merry market showcasing local artisans, the event is all about community pride, celebrating the magic of the holiday season, and giving our businesses and nonprofits a chance to shine.”
Okotoks Competes for Top Honours at Canadian Event Awards
The Best Event for a City or Municipality award recognizes events that go beyond entertainment to foster community spirit, support local businesses, and create lasting legacies. The judging criteria evaluate excellence in logistics, sustainability, risk management, community engagement and overall impact - all areas in which Light Up Okotoks continues to shine.
Winners will be announced at the Canadian Event Awards Gala on April 30, 2025, in Toronto.
For more information about the awards, visit canadianeventawards.com