The University of Lethbridge campus will kick off the holiday season tonight with the annual Christmas in the Park Festival.

Everyone is welcome to attend this year's event, which begins at 6:30 p.m. on the north end of Aperture Lake. The evening will start off with a tree lighting ceremony followed by the singing of carols around a bonfire led by U of L Resident Assistants.

There will also be hot dogs and hot chocolate available for a non-perishable food item or $2 donation. All donations will be forwarded to the Students' Union Food Bank.

The Christmas in the Park Festival also marks the culmination of a continuing partnership between the U of L community and the local chapter of the YWCA. In the weeks leading up to the festival, various units throughout campus have been collecting goods to create care packages for local families, as identified through the YWCA Hamper Drive program. Last holiday season, 10 families received packages from the U of L, with 10 trees being lit in their honour.