Tens of thousands of individual lights and displays are lit up through December at Milner Gardens, part of the 20th-anniversary celebrations of the holiday staple event. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

lots of lights

‘It’ll be something like 15,000 people this year:’ Milner Christmas Magic celebrates 20th anniversary

Dec 1, 2023 | 5:40 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — A short walk down a festively lit driveway serves as a sort of teleporter into a wonderland of Christmas spirit and joy.

For 20 years, Milner Christmas Magic has seen thousands upon thousands of Christmas lights and displays set up at the expansive Milner Gardens on the Island Hwy. in Qualicum Beach.

This year’s event opens its 12-night run on Friday, Dec. 1 with gardens director Geoff Ball saying it’s become a staple event for the mid-Island holiday season.

“[The first year] was a humble, good-spirited event we put on for the community, we had about 2,000 people through. If the weather will permit, it’ll be something like 15,000 people this year so it’s a much larger scale. The popularity and awareness of it has grown tremendously.”

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The gardens (2179 W Island Hwy W.) open at 5 p.m. on Dec. 1-3 and 8-10, then a final run between Dec. 15-20.

Admissions stop at 8 p.m. each night with the property closing a half hour later. Entry is by a suggested donation of $8 per adult, $4 for children or $20 for a household.

Ball said it’s anyone’s guess on how many lights there actually are, but the displays are extensive.

“We tried to count several years ago but…we’re just far too busy. We’re estimating well over 100,000 lights. That was several years ago and we’ve added an awful lot. The early years from our parking lot down to the garden itself, there were nothing but candles covered by coffee cans with holes in them…now we have lights from almost the top to the bottom.”

Strands of lights adorn trees, fences, railings and more across Milner Gardens. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Volunteers start stringing in September with a team of around 15 completing a lion’s share of the work. Even days out from opening night, final tweaks were still being made.

One of the highlights every year is the lights and displays inside the house and cottage on site.

While the popularity of the event has meant the properties are no longer open to the public, organizers ensure front windows and rooms are meticulously staged and lit.

Another major attraction, particularly for kids, is the opportunity to get their wish lists to Santa, who is scheduled to attend each of the 12 nights before making his rounds on Christmas Eve night.

Ball said those keen to get an audience with him should come early.

“We do recognize he’s a popular guy this time of year and on our busier nights the lineups can get long, so we can’t guarantee everyone’s going to get the chance to say hi.”

Santa and Mrs. Claus inspect the cottage on site at Milner Gardens during a pre-event tour. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Growth of the event over the years has not only been spurred by increased visibility, awareness and attendance, but also via technology.

Around 95 per cent of the bulbs are LED’s, according to Ball, who said it’s allowed them to more efficiently use power and increase the size of the event as a result.

“We keep a small section as a nod to history with incandescent lights that have just a bit of a different characteristic. But the vast majority of it is high efficiency and it shows in the number of breakers we have to use, the type of extension cords we have to use…it’s just given us much better capacity to make the event better.”

Money raised through the event goes back to support the upkeep of Milner Gardens year-round, including the programming they do in the local community.

More information on Milner Gardens and the Christmas Magic event is available on their website.

Despite not being open to the public, the house and cottage on site are popular spots for window gazers. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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