How It Started
The Light Up Bedford Parade is organized each year by a dedicated volunteer committee with one goal in mind: to bring the community together for a festive evening that kicks off the holiday season and raises support for local charitable organizations in HRM.

The parade began in 1998, when Joan and Peter Christie had a simple but bright idea—to create a community event that would both celebrate the season and give back to those in need. They approached Karen Dorey-Godwin (who had organized 12 Bedford Days parades), along with Sandy Hines and Arnold Jones, and together they formed the first Light Up Bedford Parade Committee.

That November, the inaugural Light Up Bedford Parade came to life. With 23 illuminated floats—many from community groups such as the Lions Club, Rotary Club, C.P. Allen and Bedford Junior High Bands, and local churches.  The parade drew thousands of spectators and more than 1,500 lbs of food and $450 were collected along the route for the Metro Food Bank Society and Beacon House. The event was such a success that the committee decided to do it again in 1999.
Due to the enthusiastic response and generosity of the community, the parade has continued every year since, growing in size, and impact.

How It’s Going

Since those early days, the Light Up Bedford Parade has continued to shine brighter each year. In 2023, the parade proudly celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter century of lighting up Bedford’s holiday season. For many children and families in Bedford and the surrounding communities, it has become a beloved tradition and something that marks the beginning of the holiday season.

As participation grew, so did the need for more space to marshal floats and participants. This led to a change in route, with the parade now beginning at DeWolfe Park and traveling along the Bedford Highway back to Bedford Place Mall. Over the years, organizations and businesses from across Bedford and neighbouring communities have joined the procession, adding to the excitement and community spirit.

The parade’s 1,000-light minimum for floats has become one of its defining features- and wearing lights applies to everyone, even walkers and performers! This shared commitment to “light up Bedford” sets the parade apart, transforming the Bedford Highway into a dazzling river of colour, music, and holiday cheer.

Another defining feature are the Hot Spots along the route!  Businesses, community organizations or churches offer a spot to gather with friends, have a warm drink and perhaps a snack while you wait for the parade to pass by.  When the idea was first launched it was a few places along the route and it has become so popular that there have consistently been over 20 Hot Spots in the past 4 years.

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the parade committee and Santa were determined to keep the LUBP tradition alive. With support from the Halifax Regional Municipality, the Halifax Regional Police and the title sponsor Dexter, Santa embarked on an epic tour of Bedford, visiting as many neighbourhoods as possible. Residents watched safely from their driveways and doorsteps while continuing to donate generously to the charities supported by the parade.

The People Behind the Parade

Behind the lights, music, and excitement is a small but mighty team of volunteers who make it all happen. For the past 27 years, the Light Up Bedford Parade Committee has been the driving force behind this cherished event, contributing countless hours to planning, coordination, and fundraising. This dedicated group manages everything. Their commitment to Bedford and its surrounding communities has kept the parade shining through all kinds of challenges: from unpredictable weather to the uncertainty of the pandemic.

To ensure the Light Up Bedford Parade continues to brighten our community for years to come, ongoing support from residents, businesses, and local organizations is essential. Whether through volunteering, sponsoring, or joining the committee, the community’s involvement is what sustains this tradition.
At its heart, the major purpose of the Light Up Bedford Parade remains the same as it was in 1998: to bring the community together for a festive evening that jumpstarts the holiday season and raises support for charitable organizations across HRM.

Committee Members & Parade Night Volunteers 2025:

Chair: Anne Marie Baker
Treasurer: Carolyn Horton
Secretary: Sarah Morrison
Social Media Coordinator: Katie MacLean
Coordinator & Live Stream Host: Sandee Crooks
Parade Marshal: Barb Hooper
Fundraising Coordinator: Ian Burns
Web Master & “The Man in the Sleigh": Gerald Morrison
Volunteer Coordinator: Sylvie Doucet
Live Stream Operator: Will Morrison

Past Committee Members:
Sarah O'Brian
Bill MacCallum
Peter Christie
Sandy Hines
Joan Christie
Tom Caulkin
Sandy McSween
Judy Hines
Sharron Brown
Mathew Christie
Shannon Ingraham-Christie
& Dave Selig as the original Santa