Halifax Exhibition Centre to receive a glow this Christmas

By Jordan Parker

The famed indoor Christmas festival Glow Gardens is expanding to Halifax this year.

The 85,000 sq. foot Halifax Exhibition Centre will play host to the family friendly six-week spectacular.

“Thanks to the positive feedback from last year's events, we are taking Glow global this year,” said Lawrence Jansen, CEO of Glow Gardens.

“From celebrating marriage proposals, children's birthday parties, or even date nights, we love to provide our guests with an environment where they can create memorable moments with their friends and family. We're excited for the year ahead and look forward to giving back to the communities we operate in.”

Interactive activities, playgrounds, Christmas funny, seasonal beverages, live music and more will be on-hand for this event, themed Santa’s Sleigh Adventure this year.

“Every city is going to have different themes, this one is really cool. Santa crashed sleigh, elves want another way to deliver presents,” said Claudia Habib, event manager in Halifax.

“They need alternate transportation: Hot air, train, motorcycles, and it’s all featured as a maze walk-through.”

Habib is pleased with the set expansion to take place.

“I feel great. It’s a wonderful opportunity, and like nothing that’s been done here before. We are super excited,” she said.

“Halifax was one of many cities chosen for expansion because it’s a regional hub. There’s a large population base, a lack of winter activities for kids and families, and we felt it was definitely needed.”

Though people can take their kids to movies, the Discovery Centre, bowling or other things, Habib says this show will be like no other and allow parents to relax.

It’s a family enterprise like no other.

“Our CEO, Lawrence Jansen, was the owner of a nursery and greenhouses in Langley, B.C. He went to an outdoor Christmas festival one time, and said it was horrible,” he said.

“The kids were cold and cranky, and he knew there was a better way. The person who did it wouldn’t partner with him, so Lawrence started in on his own.”

In 2017, Jansen pulled off a Christmas event in an empty greenhouse, and now Glow Gardens has expanded to Edmonton, Barrie, across Canada and a location in Denmark.

“I’m feeling good about this location in Halifax. It’s the most logical place, and there’s free parking. We plan to be around for years and years,” she said.

“We will be employing local staff when things are normally closed, giving jobs and doing food, concessions, parking and security. It’s really great.”

She call the event an “amazing” two-hour experience.

“Kids can run around, explore, get their passport stamped, visit Santa, be in bouncy castles, and they won’t want to leave,” she said.

Christmas Glow in Halifax runs from November 27, 2019 to January 5, 2020 at the Halifax Exhibition Centre.

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