The Festival of Lights serves as the unofficial kick-off to the holiday season. Visited by thousands annually, it truly is a must-see event for all residents and visitors alike.
The festival features an array of lights, movements and sounds, and runs from mid-November into the New Year in Jane Forrester Park, including South Foster Park and along the Keegan Parkway to Herchimer Avenue. It is supported by the City of Belleville along with community sponsors who give so generously each year.
Sponsorship Opportunities Documentary History Media Releases
2021 Festival of Lights
The Festival of Lights is on now through Jan. 2! This year’s route runs down Front Street through the downtown to Jane Forester Park, along St. Paul Street to Foster Avenue South to Keegan Parkway, all the way to Herchimer Avenue. Choose to travel it from the comfort of your vehicle or by foot as you make your way along the Bay of Quinte, taking in the sights and sounds of the holiday season.
Story time with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Sponsorship Opportunities
The Festival of Lights display relies on the generosity of donors to maintain this beloved community treasure. Funds raised go towards refurbishing existing displays, replacing bulbs and/or purchasing new displays. All donations, no matter the size, are greatly appreciated.
Those interested in donating to a specific display or the event as a whole can now do so online:
Donate to the Festival of Lights
We are very grateful to all our donors for the 2021 season:
| Holly Level - up to $499 |
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Burr Insurance Brokers Limited Clearview Training and Consulting Lisa Jones - In Memory of Gloria Jones Shannon Williams Lynnette Thibeau - In Honour of Armed Forces Members Amy Harder - In Honour of Dexter, Rosa and Beau Longo |
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Ornament - $500-$999 |
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Advantage Data Collection Mr. Print Canada Inc. Belleville |
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Stocking Stuffer - $1,000-$2,499 |
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Elexicon Energy Inc. Horwood Electrical Services Inc. Mackay Insurance Brokers Inc. - In Memory of David and Margaret MacKay Alliance Custom Fabrication Inc. EMS-TECH Inc. QuinWelch Management Inc. (Welch LLP) Jewell Engineering Inc. Tipper Financial Services Ltd. Proctor and Gamble Linda and Rowland Tipper - In Honour of our four grandchildren |
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Candy Cane - $2,500-$4,999 |
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Reindeer - $5,000-$9,999 |
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Reid Brothers Truck Service Inc. K.G. Reid Trenching and Construction E360S Environmental 360 Solutions |
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Elf $10,000+ |
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Fitzgibbon Construction Ltd. |
2021 Donation Event
Front Row L-R: Kim Vaquerano, Mr. Print Canada Belleville, Matt Longo, Dexter Longo, Rosa Longo, Son Beau Longo was absent, Donation from Amy Harder in Honour of their children, Worship Mayor Mitch Panciuk, Adam Tipper, Son of Linda and Rowland Tipper, Donation In Honour of their four grandchildren, Eric Tipper, Tipper Financial Services Ltd., Bruce Mackay, Mackay Insurance Brokers Ltd., Donation in Memory of David and Margaret Mackay.
Back Row L-R: Logan Demille and Greg Demille Fitzgibbon Construction, Scott Scaletta E360s Environmental Solutions Ltd., Jason Reid and Jeff Reid K.G Reid Trenching and Construction, Jason Reid and Jeff Reid K.G Reid Truck Services Ltd., Joey Moore K.G Reid Truck Services Ltd.
Scott Scaletta, Environmental 360 Solutions Ltd., Regional Manager Eastern Ontario, Worship Mayor Mitch Panciuk, Santa’s Representative, Peter Ross, Mrs. Claus’s Representative, Annis Ross
Greg Demille, Fitzgibbon Construction President, Worship Mayor Mitch Panciuk, Logan Demille, Santa and Mrs. Claus
Jason Reid, K.G. Reid Trenching and Construction, Jeff Reid, K.G. Reid Trenching and Construction, Joey Moore. Worship Mayor Mitch Panciuk, Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Jason Reid, Reid Brothers Truck Service Ltd., Jeff Reid, Reid Brothers Truck Service Ltd., Joey Moore. Worship Mayor Mitch Panciuk, Santa and Mrs. Claus.
2020 Donation Event
Front Row L-R: Scott Scaletta E360S, Danny Ardellini CEO Environmental 360 Solutions Ltd.(E360s), Councillor Kelly McCaw, Councillor Pat Culhane, Councillor Sean Kelly, His Worship Mayor Mitch Panciuk, Councillor Chris Malette, Councillor Bill Sandison, Mrs. Annis Ross, Chair of the Lighting Display & Gateway Signage Committee, Mr. Jamie Simpson Madison Excavating Inc., Mrs. Heather Henderson, Committee Member
Back Row L-R: Jason Reid, K.G Reid Trenching and Construction, Greg DeMille Fitzgibbon Construction Ltd, Jeff Reid, K.G Reid Truck Services Ltd.
History
From a senseless car accident tragedy on Christmas Eve in 1958, has come a testament to family love and the true spirit of Christmas. Originally developed as a tribute to their son Billy, Don and Rita Foster poured the grief over the loss of their son into building a Christmas display that would delight the young and young at heart. The car accident also took the life of Billy's friend Art "Sonny" Culloden and the Culloden family has generously donated to the refurbishment of this historic display in Sonny's memory.
Festival of Lights documentary
As part of the Festival of Lights we are producing a documentary on the history of the display. It is expected to be 55-60 minutes in length.
Richard Hughes, President of the Hastings County Historical Society (HCHS), is managing the Documentary project and is the contracting authority. Any donations from the business community, private individuals, foundations, clubs, etc. can be made to the Hastings County Historical Society. The HCHS will issue Charitable Donation receipts.
Cheques are to be made payable to the Hastings County Historical Society, with a notation on the bottom of the cheque "Lighting Display Documentary donation".
Mail cheques to:
Hastings County Historical Society
254 Pinnacle Street
Belleville, Ontario.
K8N 3B1