lights, camera, christmas!
By erin on December 15, 2011 | Filed Under events, faces & places
My son, the giant toddler M, is two and is just slowly embracing the concept of Christmas, Santa and all the pomp and circumstance. I couldn’t be more excited. So it was with great fervor that my family (giant toddler M, unnaturally tall husband M and myself…taller than average Erin) headed out to the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens Festival of Lights. I had been anticipating attending the Festival with a kiddo of my own for years. I had worked in ‘Mrs Claus’s Kitchen’ at the light festival selling hot chocolate in the late 90′s and wished to visit the garden under less beverage laden circumstances.
The visit did not disappoint. Well…it mostly didn’t disappoint…more on that later.
Here are some rules to follow for going to see the Festival of Lights.
Rule Number One: Don’t forget your camera.
We broke that rule. Hence the disappointment. While lights don’t necessarily photograph particularily well without a fancy dancy lens on an SLR camera, the sheer joy on the face of your two year old as he discovers the outdoor toy train set would photograph extremely well with a real camera as opposed to an iPhone. Sigh. There are no end to the photo opps at the festival. Be it the kids dancing to the musical light show or the slightly embarrassed grown men dressed as gnomes, many a great memory can be captured. I was enthralled by Santa and tickled by the tulips made out of water bottles and white fairy lights, but giant toddler M really only had eyes for the toy train. And the frozen lake. Be prepared to move quickly if you, like me, have a water obsessed child. M tried to swim several times.
Rule Number Two: Leave the stroller at home!
We did not break this rule. We were smart. Others, however, were not as smart and were hauling their three and four year olds around in giant Mountain Buggy strollers. The Festival is packed with people my friends. Unless you absolutely have to (ie. you are a single parent with a baby and toddler in tow, your child has physical limitations or you don’t have a baby carrier), leave that wheeled beast at home where it belongs. The paths are wide and friendly and easily accomodate strollers and wheelchairs, but your enjoyment level will increase immensly if you don’t need to worry about running over people’s toes.
Rule Number Three: Layers are your friends.
We tend to forget here on the temperate West Coast that winter nights are damned chilly! Puffy jackets, hats and mitts are a must for the younger set. Adults…well, you’re old enough to dress yourselves. Be smart about it.
The Festival of Lights is sure to be a recurring family tradition for us. While this year M was more interested in the toy train, hurling himself towards frozen lakes and running away from his daddy through the fairy lit pathways, we’re sure that next year he will be as awe struck as we were. I could have stayed hours in there, discovering new displays, watching kids enjoy themselves, snacking on waffles and drinking hot chocolate. Words really can’t describe the visual impact of thousands of twinkling lights adorning every nook, stick and cranny at the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens. It’s hard to tell you how beautiful it was to look at my son gazing up at his daddy, perfectly framed by a halo of lights or how magical the whole thing really is.
Of course a picture or two would have helped…but at least there’s next year.
I would also add:
Rule Number #4
Remember that BC also stands for “Bring Cash” …
As beautiful as Van Dusen is during the light shows and assorted merriment, also remember that in light of Rule Number #3, you may want something to warm your insides during the evening’s festivities – a little Cider perhaps? Or your little ones (wink wink) may want doughnut holes or some other holiday snack.
Van Dusen does not have an ATM. Stock up on your Queen Elizabeth’s, John A MacDonald’s and Wilfred (Spock) Laurier’s.
Great write up, Erin! Sorry we couldn’t bring H & A along last week! Merry Christmas!
No stroller! Word on that.