Peace Arch Park will be aglow with holiday spirit on Christmas Eve – while also marking an important event in world history.
On Dec. 24, the United States-Canada Peace Anniversary Association (USCPAA) will host a celebration commemorating the bicentennial of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent.
The Treaty of Ghent was signed on Christmas Eve, 1814 and officially ended the War of 1812 – a two-and-a-half year conflict, part of which was fought in and around the U.S.-Canadian border in the Great Lakes region, near what is now Ontario, and along Quebec's St. Lawrence River. The treaty established a "firm and lasting peace between the United States, Britain and Canada" according to the USCPAA.
The event, which runs from 3-7 p.m., will feature music and entertainers dressed in period-specific costumes, interpretive displays and, from 6-6:30 p.m., a candle lighting at the Peace Arch.
Holiday revellers will also have the opportunity to sip hot cider and take in Christmas lighting displays.
The event is free to attend, though donations to the USCPAA – a non-profit organization – are accepted and appreciated, organizers note.
The USCPAA – a group dedicated to the heritage and preservation of the International Peace Arch – was founded in 1995 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the dedication of the Peace Arch. Since its inception, the association’s activities have included historic reenactments, commemorations, concerts, educational programs, and other special events.
For more information, visit www.peacearchpark.org