LRT construction means lights out for Christmas tree in Churchill Square until 2019

Ongoing LRT construction in the Churchill Square area has pulled the plug on a popular downtown Edmonton holiday tradition.

The Holiday Light Up featuring Santa's arrival, music, fireworks and the lighting of a 70-foot Christmas tree is cancelled, and all other events that take place in the square are on hold for two years, the Downtown Business Association said Tuesday in a media release.

The tree normally sits beside Churchill Square at 102A Avenue, which is usually closed to traffic.Thearea is now not permitted any permanent structures to allow emergency vehicle access during construction.

DBA has run the event for 20 years and said it could not find another venue.

"We love the tree as much as anybody. I particularly love the tree,"saidDBA executive director Ian O'Donnell.

"Churchill was the best place for it, and we didn't want to do a disservice to the event by making it smaller or something that Edmontonians are not going to enjoy as much."

The organization looked at other locations downtown, like the Federal Building on the legislature grounds, but the size of the Christmas tree is an issue, O'Donnell said.

The tree has 60-tonne base,so it must be placed on a roadway. It can't be put up onChurchill Square itself or at the City Hall Plaza, because the paving stones can't support the weight.

Other events, like Taste of Edmonton and the Street Performers Festival, have also been pushed out of the square due to the construction, O'Donnell said.

The organization is working on planning other festival events, including bringing Santa to City Market each Saturday in December, and illuminating City Hall with holiday decorations.

Other holiday events such as Santa's Parade of Lights, 124th Street All is Bright, Festival of Trees and decorations at the legislature will still go ahead.

"We certainly didn't want to lose out on having people celebrate the season," O'Donnell said.

The square is expected to re-open for the summer festival season in 2019.