Change of plans
Weather forecast forces Charlottetown to move events indoors and to postpone parade to Sunday
Mother Nature is playing havoc with Charlottetown’s attempts to kick off its Christmas season.
Environment Canada issued a snow squall warning Thursday that will affect the central and eastern parts of the province today and into Saturday.
That has forced organizers of the Charlottetown Christmas Festival is make some significant changes to its schedule.
Wayne Long, events development officer with the city, said after consulting with weather professionals on Thursday the decision was made to move most of the activities associated with the Outdoor Christmas Market on Friday night from Victoria Row to inside the Confederation Court Mall. That will apply for the entire weekend as the market will operate Friday, 5-8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Long said some of the vendors who feature outdoor greenery will stay on Victoria Row. In addition, activities such as the horse and wagon rides, ice sculpting, Christmas tree garden, festive petting zoo and the historic walking tour will remain outside.
The Wintertide tree lighting ceremony tonight will move from the plaza at Confederation
Centre of the Arts into the Confederation Court Mall. Everything associated with the tree lighting will remain intact with the exception of the candlelight walk, which will not happen now. Instead, residents will be offered LED candles upon arrival. The event begins at 6:30 p.m.
Finally, the annual Charlottetown Christmas Parade will now take place on Sunday, Dec. 1, beginning at 5 p.m. The route will remain the same as will all traffic impacts for the parade.
Snow squalls are expected to develop today, reducing visibility at times. Queens and Kings counties could see up to 20 centimetres of snow by Saturday morning.