Nanaimo's holiday light displays are in full glow, with dozens of homes across the region going the extra mile to make this Christmas extra bright. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

LIGHT IT UP

‘It’s all about the community:’ Christmas light displays making holiday season extra bright

Dec 12, 2020 | 7:37 AM

NANAIMO — The countdown to Christmas is on and countless homes in the mid-Island are lit up for for the holidays.

Dozens of houses in the region are going the extra mile by putting up large-scale displays featuring lights and music, providing a much-needed source of holiday entertainment.

Rick Scheffers, with his neighbour Dan Wurth light up Savannah Place in central Nanaimo each night with an animated display synchronized to music. The pair run two different shows on alternating days with initial planning for the display beginning in August.

“Setup usually takes about a week or so before Halloween, then we do a small Halloween display making sure everything is running properly again then leave it up and add more to it to when we start at the end of November or beginning of December,” Scheffers said.

Scheffers, who owns a sound and lighting company in Nanaimo, programmed the 26,778 lights in this year’s display and said neighbours in the small cul-de-sac have welcomed the increased traffic.

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“They love the show, a lot are grandparents who bring their grandkids to stay overnight so they can watch from their balconies.”

Family tradition is behind a multi-house display on Cadogan St. Adam Long’s father in law, Ted Aeberhardt, has been decorating his house for over 20 years, with Long’s family contributing over the last five.

It makes for an impressive display near NRGH where Long estimated 200-300 cars each night drive by.

“It’s all about the community and it’s become an expectation,” Long said. “It’s gratifying to see everybody come along with their families and it becomes part of their Christmas traditions to stop by.”

Long said he puts the display up beginning in mid-November, working an hour or two each day and said he’s met countless people in the community over the years.

“It gets quite busy in the days leading up to Christmas, our neighbours know to give themselves extra time to get out of the house at night time.”

NanaimoNewsNOW’s Light Up Nanaimo interactive map of holiday light displays is available here.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley