Bright Nights event extended, 17,000 more Stanley Park train tickets to go on sale

The popular Bright Nights holiday eventhas been extended for five days due to high demand, with thousands of additional ticketsfor the Stanley Park mini-train set to go on sale Thursday morning.

The event was set to run from Nov. 30 until Jan. 1, but will now end onJan. 6, the park board said, and capacity on the Stanley Park train will be expanded thanks to additional carriages.

Bright Nightsis an annual free event, with donations welcomedthat supportthe B.C. Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund.

John Brodie, director of business services for the park board, advised residents to get their train tickets as early as possible on Thursday morning, with access to an onlinewaiting room available at 8:30 a.m. and ticket sales going live at 9 a.m.

An additional 17,000 tickets will be available, the park board said.Earlier this month, 23,000 tickets for the Bright Nights event were snapped up within 90 minutes of them going on sale.

"It's unfortunate that ... some people may not get tickets," Brodie told Gloria Macarenko, host of CBC's On The Coast, on Wednesday. "But I think it's just a reminder ofhow this event resonates with the public.

"It brings smiles to people's faces. I took a walk just this morning of the site and it looks amazing."

Brodie said the park board was working with a third-party ticketing partner to resolve "frustrations" with the original sale, and he hopesthe waiting room system will help mitigate high demand.

He also addressed incoming fee hikes for all park board services starting next year, includinga six per cent increase to the price of an adult admission ticketfor the Stanley Park train.

"Although unfortunate, it's just something that we need to do to make sure that we're being fiscally responsible," he said of the hikes, which have been criticized by local little leagues and park user groups.

On The Coast5:21More tickets for the Stanley Park Train

The Vancouver Park Board says it's adding additional carriages to the Stanley Park Train, and extending its run until January 6. John Brodie, the Vancouver Park Boards director of business services, speaks to Gloria Macarenko about their decision to make more tickets available.

Anyone wanting to buy tickets to the Bright Nights train can visit the park board website.

Organizers say those who can'tget train ticketsare welcome to visit the park for the lights display, Santa's workshopand nightly live music.