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Surrey lantern festival slow to tear down due to winter weather

Event organizers say there are plans to host the event again in 2019
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Equipment is still stacked throughout Bill Reid Millenium Amphitheatre despite Art of Lights ending on Feb. 10. Art of Lights’ deadline to remove displays and equipment has been extended due to the previously snowy weather. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

If you’re wondering why there are still massive lantern displays up in Cloverdale, the general manager of the Cloverdale Rodeo & Exhibition Association says it’s because of the previously snowy weather.

Art of Lights, which opened at the Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre on Dec. 14, closed to the public on Feb. 10. Some displays and equipment remain there this week.

RELATED: Lantern festival ‘like you’ve never seen before’ will open soon in Cloverdale, Oct. 4, 2018

Mike MacSorely, general manager with the rodeo, said the event organizers, Canada Chuansheng Media Ltd., was supposed to have the displays down by March 6. But due to the snow in February, he said, the organizers and the rodeo staff didn’t want to damage the park grounds when removing the displays.

MacSorely said the deadline to remove equipment had been extended. He said there was no hard deadline to remove the equipment and displays.

As of March 5, some displays were still up, with the surrounding fence taken down. Pieces of equipment were half packed up throughout the park.

“They’ve just had some trouble with the snow, and they don’t want to damage the park. They’re just being extra careful,” he said. “The last thing we want is the park to be damaged by them driving around with forklifts.”

MacSorley added that the rodeo staff is working with the event organizers “every day” to get their equipment out.

Despite the displays and equipment still scattered throughout the park, the fences previously surrounding the event have been removed.

Asked if there were any liability issues, MacSorley said, “I don’t think so. No.”

Canada Chuansheng Media Ltd. has been leasing the property since September, MacSorley said, but he couldn’t disclose the cost of the lease. He said the cost of the lease depends on the length of time.

Art of Lights opened two months late, due to not meeting building and electrical codes, the city previously told Black Press Media. The event was initially supposed to open on Oct. 12 and then delayed to Oct. 31, before finally opening on Dec. 14.

Henry Liu of Canada Chuansheng Media Ltd. said the event “wasn’t really for profit, to be quite honest.” He said the intention was “more of making a brand” and to “make a name for ourselves.”

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Art of Lights’ deadline to remove displays and equipment has been extended due to the previously snowy weather. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
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Equipment is still stacked throughout Bill Reid Millenium Amphitheatre despite Art of Lights ending on Feb. 10. Art of Lights’ deadline to remove displays and equipment has been extended due to the previously snowy weather. (Photo: Lauren Collins)


Lauren Collins

About the Author: Lauren Collins

I'm a provincial reporter for Black Press Media's national team, after my journalism career took me across B.C. since I was 19 years old.
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