Unsilent Night

Philip Walker,Record file photo

A laser show was part of the Unsilent Night event in 2011 in downtown Cambridge.

Waterloo Region Record

By Record staff

CAMBRIDGE — There won't be any snow on the ground for Cambridge's annual downtown holiday walkabout on Thursday, unlike most years past.

But above-normal temperatures are OK for an organizer of the ninth edition of Unsilent Night display along the Grand River in old Galt.

"The snow does add a magic to it," said Lisa Freund, the city's special events co-ordinator.

"We're hoping with the nice weather, that we will add to the attendance."

Last year, about 2,000 people gathered in front of Cambridge City Hall on Dickson Street. At 7 p.m., they began the walk en masse along a decorated route through downtown, including light displays and live performances.

Participants are asked to download music and play it on portable speakers to create a communal soundtrack.

Unsilent Night started in 1992 in New York. Composer Phil Kline and a few dozen people listened to his music while walking through Greenwich Village on a December evening.

In 2015, 36 cities are running an Unsilent Night on a day in December.

In Cambridge, this year's route will follow Wellington, Main, Melville and Ainslie streets, and Grand Avenue. Hot chocolate will be handed out City Hall at the end of the 45-minute stroll.

Unsilent Night coincides with the start of the Christmas Market inside City Hall. The sale by artists and artisans continues through Sunday.

Food trucks are also set up in the Farmer's Market parking lot next door, for the duration of the holiday market.