Avery Anderson takes shelter in an igloo shell at the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden’s winter Light Festival. Photo by Tanner French.

The Nikka Yuko Japanese garden hosted its tenth annual Winter Light Festival from Nov. 29 to Feb. 28.  The event is a staple of family entertainment during Lethbridge’s cold season.  Each year the light show has a theme and for the last few years the theme has remained the same, a celebration of the four seasons.  Eric Granson, marketing and sales manager at Nikka Yuko says this year’s light show is special for another reason as well.

“The province of Alberta and the province of Hokkaido in Japan are actually celebrating 45 years of diplomatic relations between them both, so we’re also honouring that as well.”

The light show honoured this diplomatic relationship by including some special features in the light show, one being a Japanese-style castle.  Aside from the castle there are several amusing light displays to check out, including light tunnels to walk through and a depiction of Japan’s Mount Fuji. 

“The spot where you can ring the bell” was the a highlight of the event for young attendee Liam Bates.   Bates was referring to the Japanese garden’s friendship bell, which is representative of the relationship between Japan and Canada.  Sadly the garden isn’t lit up all year, but Granson says there’s no shortage of things to do at the garden through the spring and summer months.

“The spring season’s always wonderful.  We have our crab-apple trees that have similar flowers to the Sakura or cherry blossom trees in Japan… We also highlight a lot of Hinamatsuri with mother-daughter day (March 2).” When the weather warms up and the crab apple trees are blooming, along with these fun activities the Japanese garden has fireworks for Canada Day, several festivals with drumming and dancing and a weekly summer event called “Food Truck Fridays.” This event is just as it sounds, food trucks gather at the Japanese garden for people to enjoy their food. 

Everyone knows the winter light festival is one of the best family entertainment options in Lethbridge’s cold season. The Nikka Yuko Japanese garden offers a variety of activities and offer deep insight into the long-time friendship between Canada and Japan.