The Cold Lake M.D. Campground is glowing again this week as Hearts for Healthcare launches its annual holiday tradition, Sparkle in the Park. The event runs Dec. 1 to 6, lighting up the winter evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with admission by donation and all proceeds supporting mental health awareness in the region.

I caught up with Ashley Brown, marketing and communications lead for Hearts for Healthcare, and Kari Leiper as crews moved around us setting up the last of the displays. Volunteers were hauling ladders, testing lights, and shouting updates across the campground — all the signs that opening night was close.

“We started with eight or nine displays the first year,” Brown said, watching another generator kick on. “We just wanted to bring something positive to our community at a time of year that can be difficult for some.”

That first year was 2022. Since then, Sparkle in the Park has grown into one of Lakeland’s most prominent holiday attractions. This year features more than 90 displays, a whole route through the campground, and a dramatically expanded light tunnel supported by Pevach Corp and ATCO. Seven Lakes Oilfield Services also joined in, building custom installations that Brown said “bring a whole new level to the event.”

Leiper, who has been heavily involved in planning and setting up each year, said the community response has been the driving force behind its growth. “It’s amazing to see people get so excited for something that started so small,” she said. “This event has really created a meaningful connection between Hearts for Healthcare and the community.”

Mental health remains the focus of the fundraiser — something Brown said feels like the natural fit for a holiday event meant to lift spirits. “Our goal is to bring people joy, comfort, and a bit of holiday spirit,” she said. “We want Sparkle in the Park to be a bright spot for anyone who needs it.”

Even as the event gets bigger, the impact stays close to home. All donations remain in the region, supporting local wellness needs and facilitie,s including the Cold Lake Healthcare Centre, Community Health Services, the Primary Care Network and the CLFNS Health Centre. Brown said keeping the funds local is essential. “Donations help real people right here in our community in simple, practical ways,” she noted.

Behind the scenes, Sparkle in the Park is powered by more than 150 volunteers, a small planning committee, and Hearts for Healthcare’s two staff members — a level of effort that few visitors ever see. “It’s months of preparation to bring this event to life,” Brown said. “It takes a massive amount of work, but seeing the community show up and enjoy it makes all of it worthwhile.”

This year’s event includes familiar favourites, new additions, special treats along the route, collectible ornaments for early guests, and an expanded sneak-peek night held Nov. 30 that offered the community its first look at the 2024 displays.

Walking through the campground as setup wrapped up, the scale of the event was impossible to miss. Lights stretched between trees, volunteers high on ladders adjusted final details, and families and businesses carefully positioned their displays. It felt like the entire Lakeland had gathered to build something together.

Sparkle in the Park may last only six nights each December, but its impact carries far beyond the holiday season. It’s a celebration, a thank-you, a fundraiser, and a moment of comfort all wrapped into one. And this year — brighter and bigger than ever — it remains exactly what Brown and Leiper hoped it would be: a joyful place for the community to come together.