People in Lethbridge were welcomed into the winter lights festival by the sound of sweet melodies, glistening lights and unique ice sculptures last weekend.

Opera in the Garden was put on by Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens on Jan. 10 in hopes of combining Japanese and Canadian culture.

Guests were able to hear the harmonized voices of the Little Lethbridge Opera Company while enjoying the 115,000 Christmas lights scattered around the garden.

“We are just always trying to find new ways to entertain our guests and give people different things to experience. So having opera in the gardens is something that most people might not ever experience or ever get to hear an opera singer,” said Melanie Berdusco, marketing and event manager for the Japanese gardens.

The opera singers performed three songs every half hour between 6:30 and 8:00 pm.

“There’s a ton of different kinds of people coming in and out of the garden and many of them may have not heard opera at all so it’s really cool that we get to sing for people who know us and people who don’t,” said Megan Wittig, singer for Little Lethbridge Opera Company regarding preforming in the gardens.

In addition to the opera, the gardens also featured three brand new symbolic ice sculptures.

One of the sculptures known as “ONI” or demons is seen to be the bringer of bad luck.

In the coming weeks, the gardens will host an event that allows guests to throw roasted soybeans at the sculpture to symbolize a way to provide defense against evil spirits. This action will encourage good luck to the people who participate.

This was the first time the Japanese gardens hosted an event with the Little Lethbridge Opera, but said the turn out will result in more events with the opera singers.

Along with the opera, the Japanese gardens are also hosting a variety of events over the rest of the month including a tea workshop, horse and wagon rides and another opera night on Jan. 24.