A highly anticipated Christmas attraction is returning to brighten up smiling faces at Belleville’s Jane Forrester Park and the surrounding area.

The city’s Light Display and Gateway Signage Committee was joined by members of council and a small group of attendees on a rainy Wednesday for a tree lighting ceremony at Market Square to officially launch the Festival of Lights for the 2021 Christmas season.

Much like last year, the lighting display will lead a merry trail through the park, through Harbor Drive to South George St., along Eagan Parkway, and out to Herchimer Avenue and the area of Belleville General Hospital with an array of lights, holiday-themed movements and sounds.

This year's tree was donated by residents Patsy and Michael Halloran in memory of their son David Forestell.

“We've had a lot of feedback from people at the hospital who are at their most vulnerable and looking out the windows and seeing all the lights and displays at Christmas time really brings them joy,” explained committee member Annis Ross.

“We're trying to spread it around the city a little bit and expand the joy.”

That means anybody who drives the five-kilometre route will again see most of the lights in the back of Jane Forrester Park to start, they won’t see as many near the entrance of the park if they come from South Front St.

This, Ross explained, was done as a COVID precaution. Individuals and families are still able to leave their cars and take a look at the displays on foot as well.

Wednesday was also a day to thank the variety of sponsors that pitched in with more than $34,000 in total to help keep the display going.

Some of the contributing donation team members include; Fitzgibbon Construction, KG Reid Construction, Mr. Print Canada, Environmental 360 Solutions, Mackay Insurance Brokers, Amy Harder in the names of her kids Dexter, Rosa, and Beau Longo, Lisa Jones in memory of Gloria Jones, Welch LLP, Procter & Gamble, Jewell Engineering and more.

Ross said these donations have been, and continue to be paramount in giving the committee a chance to put on the display again.

“If wasn't for the generous donations from businesses and individuals over the years, we certainly wouldn't be at the point that we're at today,” she praised. “We're so grateful for that.”

The Christmas lights display, as many Bellevillians know, was started in 1959 on the front lawn of the Foster family home on Emily St. by Don and Rita Foster in memory of their son Billy, who died in a Christmas Eve 1958 car collision along with friend Art “Sonny” Culloden.

Homemade decorations and lights were put outside the Foster residence for many years until Bruce and Majorie Nickle took it over at Marsh Drive. From there, it moved to Tom Gavey Alemite Ballpark on Pine St., before finding its current home at Jane Forrester Park in 2012.

For Ross, preserving the magic and spirit of Christmas in kids and those young at heart is what keeps the display going every year.

“It's awesome to see the little ones especially that bring such joy to Santa and myself and in our elves and the reindeer,” she said.

“They just love the kids and are (excited) hear the little stories about what they want for Christmas, and so excited to tell the stories about Christmas Eve. When the reindeer showed up and (left) cookies and drinks out for everybody, it was awesome to just see their little faces light up.”

The lights will be plugged in on Friday, Nov. 19 as part of the usual unofficial holiday kickoff weekend that includes the Nighttime Santa Claus Parade on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

The display will brighten Jane Forrester Park and the surrounding area until Jan. 2.

You can visit the city’s website and social media for a route map.