The City of Kamloops is gearing up to welcome hundreds of local seniors for a beloved holiday tradition

The annual Seniors’ Light Tour returns on Friday, Dec. 12. from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering a festive and memorable evening for seniors across the community.

Hosted by the city and powered by dedicated volunteers, this free event brings residents together for an accessible and joyful celebration of the season.

Each year, seniors board BC Transit buses for a guided tour through some of Kamloops’ brightest and most festive neighbourhoods. In previous years, the tour followed a citywide route.

Today, the event focuses on a different neighbourhood each season, allowing organizers to highlight standout light displays and ensure a more relaxed and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

This year’s tour will take place throughout Westsyde, with local homeowners and businesses encouraged to decorate their properties and help light up the route.

According to Community Events Coordinator Janvi Desai, the event has become something seniors look forward to all year.

“We normally have about 500 to 600 seniors who take part. They get to go out for Christmas, see the lights and later come to the Sandman Centre for a party,” Desai said. “They get to socialize with other seniors, meet their friends and have a great time. It is a pretty special event. There are a lot of communities that do this, but not to the scale that we do.”

Refining the route has also helped organizers create a more meaningful experience. “We used to take everyone around the whole city at one time, but we were not able to cover the special houses that were beautifully lit up,” Desai said. “Now we concentrate on one area of the city each year. It is also beneficial for our bus drivers because they do not have to rush.”

Volunteers play a central role in making the night run smoothly. They are stationed at pick up points to greet seniors, assist them onto the buses and stay with their assigned group throughout the evening.

“Volunteers are the most important part of this event,” Desai said. “They give their [assigned] seniors a good time on the bus, they sing carols, they play games and sometimes they even hand out treats that they bring themselves. They are out in the cold helping all night and then go home at midnight.”

Inside the Sandman Centre, another team of volunteers will set up, serve refreshments and ensure the celebration runs smoothly. This event typically needs about 70 to 75 volunteers each year.

For many seniors, the evening is far more than a tour. It is a rare chance to gather, celebrate and feel included during the holidays. “Helping seniors have a good time is important to our city,” Desai said. “They are a huge part of our population and should not be left out of the celebrations.”

The community also makes a difference. “A lot of them told me last year that they were so happy with the lights. The community lit up the whole route for them,” Desai said.

Residents and businesses in Westsyde are encouraged to decorate and help make this year’s tour another bright and meaningful experience for Kamloops seniors.