As days become shorter and darker, colourful, sparkling lights around the community are a welcome sight for many.
Winter Solstice on Thursday, December 21, marks the day the sun will set a little after 4 pm in Powell River. By then, holiday lights will shine all over town.
Already, there are many places to see lights, including local businesses, BC Transit’s red-nosed, antlered Santa bus, large trees lit up on Marine and Joyce avenues and Powell River Recreation Complex’s Winter Wonderland.
For many, touring the community to marvel at the decorating efforts on neighbouring homes, boats and even trucks generates the most excitement.
A Facebook group entitled Powell River Christmas Lights alerts locals to the best and brightest displays to check out, and provides a platform to share pictures and appreciation.
Another page dedicated to Ryder Spick’s Christmas truck has close to 800 followers and lets people know where the vehicle will be next, and when. In addition to bringing wonder and delight, Spick accepts non-perishable donations to Powell River Action Centre Food Bank.
Areas described as "must-see" on the Facebook group pages include Chilco Avenue in Wildwood, the area between Maple Avenue and Oak Street in Townsite and Toba Street in Grief Point.
Residences of note include Ron and Linda Diprose’s house on Manitoba Avenue and Lisa Cooke’s home on Tanner Avenue. The Diproses start hanging lights in November.
“Between my wife and I, it takes about 140 hours to set up,” said Diprose. “It takes me about a day to do the roof. I’m one of the crazy Christmas people.”
Cooke, whose home is behind Springtime Garden Centre, said it takes time and a lot of equipment, including 15 totes of lights, to make the house and surrounding yard shine so bright.
“It takes us probably a good three days to set up," said Cooke.
Cooke and Diprose said seeing the happiness their light displays bring to children is their main motivation for the efforts.
“I love seeing the kids' reactions,” said Cooke.
Diprose said he creates the display with his three-year-old grandson in mind and gets a kick out of the other youngsters who take in the sights.
“We’ve had a couple of kindergarten classes come through and the parents said, ‘Wow!’ A lot of people really appreciate it," said Diprose. "I’ve had about a dozen people walk up our lane in the last two days thanking me."
Cooke said large light displays she remembers as a child growing up in Powell River inspired her to create her own.
“When I was growing up there was a house on Manson Avenue and Field Street, that was the inspiration,” said Cooke. “I kind of always wanted to be that place, and over the last few years we have been.”
Cooke said her display will be lit up from December 15 onward.
A Christmas lights bus tour will run December 17 and 18, meeting at 6:30 pm at the main entrance of the recreation complex. Tickets are $5 per person or $16 per family and can be reserved by calling the complex at 604.485.2891.
