The popular Calgary Christmas tradition of walking through the Lions Festival of Lights is making the pathway along 14th Street N.W. dangerous, say some nearby residents.

Drivers are pulling their cars up over the curb and parking on the path meant for pedestrians and cyclists.

"I was a bit cheesed off at these self-entitled people who seem to think because they have a ton of metal behind them they should drive down the sidewalk," said Mike Spear, who lives near Confederation Park.

He was recently walking his two dogs when several cars manoeuvred to get to the best viewpoint, narrowly missing hitting them.

Spear is frustrated most of the drivers don't seem to care.

Mike Spear said walking his dogs along the path by Confederation Park has become hazardous because drivers act entitled to drive up over the curb and park on the sidewalk to watch the Lions Festival of Lights. (CBC)

"Some people would either shrug, they didn't seem to realize it was a sidewalk, even though they had to get over a curb to get onto it," said Spear.

"Some people just basically looked at me and seemed to think that I was a problem."

These bright lights are drawings crowds to Confederation Park, but the way some people are parking is not leaving a twinkle in some residents eyes. The Lions Festival of lights has been a Christmas tradition in Calgary's northeast for 29 years. (Stephanie Wiebe/CBC)

Calgary police hear about these kinds of problems every year.

Drivers who park on a pathway could wind up with a $50 ticket under city bylaw.

However, police say reminding drivers to stay where they're supposed to, is the top priority.

"The last thing you want is some kind of a conflict with a pedestrian or a pedestrian with a motorist, but the onus is on the motorist especially if the pedestrian is walking where they're supposed to," said Staff Sgt. Paul Stacey with the traffic unit.

Tire marks in the snow near the pedestrian/bike path parallel to 14th Street N.W. Nearby residents are fed up with the drivers who illegally park on the sidewalk and put them at risk. (Stephanie Wiebe/CBC)

Stacey says crews will keep an eye on the parking and traffic congestion around the park through to the end of the festival on Jan. 8.