Drive-Thru Christmas Experience outside the Coliseum on Dec. 16, 2020. (Chilliwack Chiefs)

Drive-Thru Christmas Experience staved off the darkness with holiday cheer

Organizers said that Chilliwack attendees generously donated $5K for the Christmas Hamper Program

The Drive-Thru Christmas Experience managed to stave off the darkness in Chilliwack with festive light displays and lots of holiday spirit.

There were food trucks, treats, special guests and volunteers who braved the drizzle outside the Coliseum over the four hours Wednesday night.

“The event raised $5,000 towards the Christmas hamper program,” said Leanna Kemp, executive director of the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce.

“We got about 15 thank-you emails from some very happy people, and clearly the generosity of our community shows how much they appreciated something to do.”

The organizers had nothing but gratitude for those who rallied to make it happen.

“The Chilliwack Chiefs and the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce would like to sincerely thank all the participating businesses who stepped up to the plate with eight days notice to help us provide an amazing community light-up experience,” according to the release Dec. 17.

“Without the support of businesses such as these, these events just cannot happen. We are so incredibly grateful to our business community and the community in general for rallying together as always to spread a little cheer this holiday season.”

They acknowledged with regret that it had been impossible to register everyone who wishe to attend.

“With the Provincial Health orders in place and restricting capacity to 50 cars an hour, and the businesses coming to the table with eight days notice, we just couldn’t accommodate any more cars and we just could not pull off another day.”

RELATED: Drive-Thru Christmas Experience ready to go

READ MORE: Something similar was slated to open at PNE site

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Drive-Thru Christmas Experience outside the Coliseum on Dec. 16, 2020. (Chilliwack Chiefs)