Light Up The Village Preview

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

The official Holiday Season kickoff at Park Royal is happening Friday, November 22nd at the annual Light Up The Village festival and excitement is already in the air. This signature Park Royal event has been the iconic North Shore Holiday Season opener for years, but this year’s event is not-to-be missed.

The Light Up The Village festivities will begin at 5:00pm and will include a ferris wheel, live music, axe throwing, food trucks, face painting, and of course, lots and lots of beautiful holiday lights! Santa will be making his arrival to Park Royal at the event with a 6:45pm countdown to the holiday lighting throughout the Village followed by a lively parade where Santa will find his home – designed again this year by Urban Barn – for the season outside Simons in Park Royal South.

Additionally, many of the Park Royal retailers will have booths set up along the Village stroll to create an even more magical evening and I was able to meet up with several of them to find out what they have planned in order to give you a sneak peek of what’s in store!

Whole Foods Market – A favourite destination for more than just produce, Whole Foods Market will have Christmas tree shaped shortbread cookies with decorating supplies in a cookie decorating booth for kids by donation with proceeds going to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation. Apple cider will also be available for purchase to keep you warm and cozy throughout the evening.

skoah – Not just skincare; skoah Park Royal has cozy treatment rooms for glowing skin that will last into the New Year! Having just experienced my first skoah facial, the power facial, I can tell you that this 45-minute treatment lives up to its name! This treatment wastes no time but pampers all the same. Skoah will have a pet rock kids craft setup for Light Up The Village with a limited amount of $25 facial treatment certificates and will also be hosting their Holiversary customer appreciation event in store with product discounts and treatment upgrades. Come one, come all and keep your complexion merry & bright.

Chatters – A great place to find salon haircare and styling products, of course! But, also a great place for a blowout or cut & colour! Chatters at Park Royal is a full-service salon and kept my locks looking top notch after a beautiful blowout that lasted for days. Don’t miss them at Light Up The Village, they’ll be offering some festive holiday styling in their booth – and do yourself a favour by booking a treatment in their salon this holiday season!

Trattoria – Worried about squeezing in dinner between work and Light Up? Fret not! Chef MJ at Trattoria is working up some of the most delicious meatballs and creamy Vegan mushroom soup specially made to order for Light Up The Village. You will also find delicious hot cocoa and apple cider for sale alongside the food items from Trattoria for a well-rounded holiday festival dinner.

Scholars – A ‘new kid on the block’ at Park Royal, Scholars Education Centre will have a table at Light Up The Village with computers to showcase their coding programs for children to demo. Scholars will also have some more simple STEM activities for smaller hands and staff available to speak about their tutoring programs for interested parents.

Lindt – Lindt Lindor truffles, how I love you so! Our friends at Lindt will not disappoint us at Light Up The Village as they will be sampling their delicious chocolate mint Lindor truffles and don’t miss their Panettone.

Baby, it might be cold outside, but we’ll be warm with our hot cocoa (and probably from throwing a few axes!) We can’t wait to see you at Light Up The Village Friday, November 22nd! I will be taking over the Park Royal Instagram during the event to give you a behind the scenes look at the Light Up The Village coming together and all the magic from beginning to end.

See you on the 22nd!

xo.

Gretchen

This post is Sponsored by Park Royal. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Photography by Kat Willson

Makeup by Shopper’s Beauty Boutique, Park Royal