London may have woken up to a winter wonderland before Halloween, but now it's official -- the Christmas holiday season has begun.
Thousands turned out to Victoria Park to welcome it last night during the city's annual lighting of the lights ceremony, which included area soldiers who reminded everyone this is the season of giving by kicking off their annual Toys for Tots campaign.
Awestruck children, nostalgic parents and newcomers to the city were among the crowds that strolled among displays and trees decorated with 75,000 lights as Christmas carols played over the bandshell loudspeakers.
Some even danced.
"I think the lights are really a lot pretty," four-year-old Aiden Stewart said after spinning to the music with her six-year-old brother Kaleb.
"I was excited when they came on," she added, sporting a pink balloon hat made by the Town Crier in a warming station. "Look at my hat, my hat is so beautiful," she said.
Sisters Shada and Soha Al Hozali -- who are from Saudi Arabia and have been in London since September studying at the University of Western Ontario -- took each other's picture in front of a purple-lit fur tree.
"This is beautiful," said Shada, 26, while Elvis's Blue Christmas boomed through the park.
"Everything is so pretty," said Soha, 24, wearing a glittering head scarf. "But more, the atmosphere is so good.
"People seem so busy here usually and this is the first time we have seen so many people out together and having such a beautiful time."
Across the park, children lined up for a chance to sit inside a military truck used to collect donations for the toy drive.
The need for toy donations is greater than ever this year, with local social service agencies identifying 1,700 children who would otherwise go without, said 2nd Lieut. Patrick Blanshard of the 4th Battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment.
The reservists hope to collect 10,000 toys and will begin delivering them next Saturday.
