Mississauga festival of lights likely delayed

Mississauga | Ontario | Festivals & Events | Latest News |

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Published September 13, 2021 at 1:30 pm

Illumi's opening of a Mississauga festival of lights looks to be delayed as workers are still needed for the fall and winter attraction.

Mississauga residents looking forward to visiting a renowned festival of lights that plans to set up shop in the north end of the city in November are going to have to wait a while–maybe a long while.  

Already facing difficulty hiring people, Illumi by Cavalia is now reportedly having trouble getting the displays for its popular fall/winter attraction out of China, where the pieces are manufactured prior to being assembled here.  

City of Mississauga Ward 5 Councillor Carolyn Parrish, who last week updated her colleagues on Illumi and its efforts to open for business here, said it appears plans to open the site Nov. 1 have been thwarted. 

Citing politics as perhaps being responsible for the hold-up, Parrish said today she has no idea whether a short or lengthy delay awaits. Canada’s relationship with China has been strained in recent years.  

Illumi officials could not be reached for comment today.  

Illumi by Cavalia has operated in the Montreal area since 2019 and is essentially a temporary village constructed of lights and other multimedia displays that is geared towards families and is expected to be a large tourist attraction during the fall and winter months.

It’s billed as the “largest light, sound and multimedia show in the world.”

The plan for Mississauga calls for the ticketed event to be located on a plot of land in the north part of the city and will allow people to drive and walk through a series of themed light displays. 

“That is going to be a massive attraction for people coming out of COVID, and it’s going to be set up as drive through, walk through and funny little trains to take people through,” Parrish said last week. “I’m really looking forward to that.” 

Parrish said Illumi is having difficulty hiring people, both on the front-end construction side and on the operations side once it’s up and running. 

Illumi officials said earlier this year they believe Mississauga is a great fit for the attraction. 

The plan calls for a five-year commitment on the privately-owned property that is eventually earmarked for development. 

Parrish noted earlier the event will be the perfect way to re-launch tourism and business in Mississauga with the end of the pandemic in sight. 

 

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