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WC parade

Fest going for parade record What has 1,000 lights and sets a world record? The answer is "you" on attending the World Cup Festival of Lights torch light parade.

Fest going for parade record What has 1,000 lights and sets a world record? The answer is "you" on attending the World Cup Festival of Lights torch light parade. By assembling at the base of Whistler Mountain's village side, World Cup festival organizers hope to attract enough people to set a Guinness Book of World Records mark for the largest mountainside torch light parade. Locals and visitors, families, relatives, kids, grandparents — are all encouraged to bring their flashlights, head lamps, portable lanterns and what have you (but no flaming toches) to the square at Whistler Mountain’s village gondola at 5 p.m., Fri., Dec. 6. And more than just standing around, organizers hope enough people will take part to form a giant Christmas tree outline on the ski slope. The parade will then move off the mountain and become the Parade of Champions, passing through Mountain and Village Squares on the way to the conference centre. The flashing lights and sirens of Whistler Fire department vehicles will accompany the parade. Everyone is invited to join in the parade. Organizers hope participants will wear clothes representative of their ethnic background, whether that's a lumberjack coat over a hockey sweater, lederhosen and knee socks, or full-on kabuki theatrical gear. World Cup opening ceremonies start at the conference centre once the parade gets there, at about 6:15 p.m. Royal Canadian Mounted Police constables will be dressed to the teeth in their finest red serge and topped by their famous Stetson hats, bringing a dash of colour to the show. The opening ceremonies will be followed by the bib draw at 6:30. Local ski club athletes will assist the top 30 World Cup racers in picking their start numbers for Saturday’s downhill.