Entrance to the lights

By Connor Gunn

Nikka Yuko Winter Light Festival kicks off November 26, tickets now on sale

Nov 17, 2021 | 2:03 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – After breaking the attendance record last year, the Winter Light Festival is back for 2021.

Starting November 26, people are welcome to join Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens and take in the vibrant lights at night.

Tickets are currently on sale and can be bought at nikkayuko.com/event.

The previous year, 19,585 guests came through the gates and strolled under almost 170,000 lights.

This year, organizers say the number of lights will be nearly the same amount but they are allowed to hold more guests in at once.

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A short video can be viewed below.

Images of the lights

Proof of vaccination is not required as it’s an outdoor event but masking is required to enter the grounds.

Those with pre-purchased tickets can proceed directly to the main gates for entry. If you have purchased a food and drink package (Tomodachi or Kazoku) you may pick up your items at the Yanoshita Centre.

Nikka Yuko says some tickets may be available to purchase at the Bunka Centre on each night, but availability is not guaranteed.

In normal (non-COVID) years, Nikka Yuko would have up to 1,000 people in the gardens at a time to view the festival.

Images of the lights

This year, time slots are booked only allowing 100 people in at once to maintain social distancing.

Highlights of last year’s festival include:

• 19,585 guests during our two-month run, this is a 17.6 per cent increase from our 2019/2020 Winter Light Festival (16,654)
• 167,316 lights, a jump from our 116,106 lights last season
• 93% customer satisfaction from our feedback survey of guests
• 20 sponsors, including our new title sponsor of Panasonic Canada
• Full AHS compliance and approval regarding COVID-19 regulations with no cases traced to the garden

Go to Nikka Yuko for more information on the festival.