Calgary's Christmas lights festival might go on, after all

An annual Christmas lights display at Calgary's Confederation Park might get switched back on this year after a dispute between the city and a volunteer group had organizers ready to pull the plug.

The Lions Festival of Lights Society said last week it might have to cancel its popular holiday season display because it couldn't resolve issues on accessing the Confederation Park Golf Course for set up and tear down.

Otto Silzer, president of the society, said after a meeting Friday with city staff he's optimistic a solution can be found.

"I think there's a lot of pressure on city council," he said. "There's a lot of pressure for them to carry on with this display."

"I think the meeting was great. There's an appreciation of the size and the magnitude of the display and the concerns, other concerns that we had besides just the access dates ... but they have to resolve other issues."

The Lions Festival of Lights has been set up in the southeast corner of the golf course, near 14th Street and 24th Avenue N.W., for the past 32 years.

Silzer sent a letter to Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Coun. Sean Chu last week saying he felt the volunteer society had no other option but to cancel the display.

He said he was told by city officials that set up must begin no earlier than Nov. 7 to make way for late season golfers. He wanted to start at the end of October to avoid snow and to accommodate volunteers' schedules.

At the latest, golf course staff want the display removed by March 7. But in early March, the ground is often covered by snow or it's soggy after the snow has been thawed by chinooks. Those conditions wouldn't allow for a truck to drive onto the site to pick up the display, Silzer said, and could damage the grass on the golf course.

The two sides plan to meet again in August.