Milner Christmas Magic opens Thursday, Dec. 5 at Milner Garden & Woodlands in Qualicum Beach, drawing thousands of people through December to the illuminated wonderland. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

light it up

‘They come every year:’ Milner Christmas Magic opening for holiday season

Dec 5, 2024 | 5:33 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — Well over 100,000 lights have been hung with care, Santa has arrived and organizers are ready to welcome thousands for an annual holiday spectacle.

Milner Gardens & Woodland, at 2179 Island Hwy. West in Qualicum Beach, begins hosting its annual Milner Christmas Magic on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., continuing every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night until Christmas.

Geoff Ball, executive director, told NanaimoNewsNOW the expansive show covers a considerable portion of their waterfront property.

“It’s about 700 metres of trail that we light up, so it takes a mountain of extension cords and I think we could power up something in Nanaimo if physics allowed us, but we’ve got the length to get there.”

Over 100,000 lights have been hung over the last two months, getting ready for the annual Milner Christmas Magic in Qualicum Beach. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Entrance is by a suggested donation of $8 per adult, $4 per child or $20 per household.

A shuttle service has also been established for visitors, running Saturday’s and Sunday’s between the Gardens and Qualicum Beach Civic Centre.

Buses leave the Civic Centre approximately every 20 minutes between 4:45 p.m. and 7:40 p.m., with departures every 20 minutes from the Gardens from 5:15 p.m. to 8:50 p.m.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are also scheduled to attend nightly through the season, meeting with kids and taking photos before heading back to the North Pole in time for the big night.

Attempting to count the lights each year is a near-impossible task, but Ball said it’s “easily over 100,000”.

A switch over the last several years to LED lights has allowed for more freedom and flexibility with the display, while also reducing some costs.

“It makes it a lot easier for setup. We still have a few remnant bits of incandescent lights…but almost everything is LED. That’s made a massive difference just the consumption and the need for electrical extension cords, you just don’t need as many or as heavy gauge…it just draws much less power overall.”

Key additions last year included a new umbrella display, which Ball promises is being “doubled down” on this year.

A new umbrella display launched in 2023 was a hit with Garden-goers. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Other parts worked on this year include a bigger tunnel display and a more extensive and immersive trail system.

Ball said a few of the feature trees have also been redone.

“And we’re in experimental phase with ‘Project X’, we’ll see if it come to fruition this year or next year. We’ve got a toy in the background we’re playing with and seeing if we can make it come to life this year.”

Ball added it’s very rewarding to see the event grow year after year, becoming a special part of people’s holiday traditions.

“I was here for the very first one [in 2003] and at that time, it was something friends and family would come and check out but there’s been this shift over the decades where it has become a family and friend tradition, they come every year and it’s on their calendar to come out.”

He noted some kids who visited Santa in the first few years of the event are now bringing their own children out to do the same.

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