Parliament Hill lights up in holiday colours

Thousands of people gathered on Parliament Hill Wednesdayevening to see the official illumination of the holiday lights.

The lighting ceremony kickedoff witha performance by Measha Brueggergosman andthe Ottawa Regional Youth Choir, and ended with a fireworks show.

A new multimedia projection show was also unveiled at the ceremony. The winter-themeddisplaywillbe presented on a loop from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET every evening until Jan. 7,2016.

People at the ceremony gotfree BeaverTails pastries and hot chocolate while supplies lasted.

Hundreds of thousands of holiday lights were also strung along Wellington Street, Mackenzie Avenue, Elgin Street and Sussex Drive in downtown Ottawa.

Laurier Street in Gatineau and the Alexandra Bridge was also expected to bedecorated with lights.