20 November 2015 / #beavertails #christmas Christmas Lights Across Canada - Official Illumination Ceremony on December 2[caption id=“attachment_19259” align=“aligncenter” width=“800”] Patrimoine canadien/Canadian Heritage[/caption]The official illumination ceremony for the 31st edition of Christmas Lights Across Canada takes place on Parliament Hill on **December 2 ** , at7 p.m.This year’s ceremony features enhanced pyrotechnics, a performance by Measha Bruggergosman, and a large screen that will air holiday wishes from all 13 Premiers during the Illumination Ceremony. Plus ** free ** Beavertails and hot chocolate! For the 2015-2016 lighting season, the program offering has been significantly enhanced. Notable updates include ** an increase of 100,000 lights ** in the Capital including a new location on MacKenzie Avenue, and ** a winter lightscape projection show ** that will be presented on Parliament buildings every night from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. throughout the Christmas Lights period. _ The program was launched in 1985 to highlight landmarks along Confederation Boulevard, including Parliament Hill, National Capital Commission (NCC) sites, national museums, institutions, monuments, embassies and other prominent institutions, as well as to add vibrancy to the Capital during the winter months and kick off the holiday season in Canada’s Capital Region. _ _ The program also brings Canadians together by linking the Capital Region with Canada’s thirteen provinces and territories. In December, most provincial and territorial capital cities hold an illumination ceremony or celebration of the season. _ [caption id=“attachment_19261” align=“aligncenter” width=“800”] Patrimoine canadien/Canadian Heritage[/caption]