With Christmas just around the corner, a number of residents have given their homes a holiday makeover to make spirits – and their streets – bright.
This year, there are returning favourites, including a number of homes that are raising funds for charity, and some new addresses that are all worth a visit.
In order to make the Christmas lights tour a bit easier to navigate, Peace Arch News has compiled a sampling of some of the holiday homes in and around the area.
So, grab your GPS, a scarf and some hot cocoa and get illuminated in the days ahead:
• 2958 147A St.: What began as a single, inflatable snowman in 2006 has turned into a front lawn chock-full of festive decor. Real estate agent Neil Higgins has told Peace Arch News in the past that favourite piece is his Home Depot stock car, modeled after the car NASCAR driver Tony Stewart used to drive.
• 15499 22 Ave.: Ken and Bonnie Fletcher have once again heralded the holiday season with their fantastic display of lights. In past years, the dizzying display has also included push-button toys in the family’s decorated garage. Keeping with their tradition, the family will be collecting donations for Sources White Rock/South Surrey food bank.
• 16956 60A Ave.: The Kinna family in Cloverdale is back with their holiday display and will be collecting funds for the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation.
• Cloverdale’s Karen Wagner and her family once again have their home decked out for the season and will be collecting donations for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. The lights were officially switched on Dec. 1 – the day Wagner lost her dad to cancer more than 35 years ago – and will stay lit from 6-10 p.m. through Dec. 31 at 19056 63B Ave. Hot chocolate, coffee and candy canes will be available Friday to Sunday.
• Wish Upon A Star display, featuring 28,000 lights at 19368 62A Ave., has Santa and his sleigh flying overhead, an interactive musical snowman, light display and a photo op with Rudolph, Bumble and friends. Donations accepted for B.C. Children’s Hospital. Visit www.facebook.com/wishuponastarchristmas
• The Bonneteau family has its second-annual Winter Wonderland display set up this year, raising money for Variety - The Children’s Charity. The home, with dancing, musical lights, singing Santa and a large nativity scene, is located at 16951 Jersey Dr. and lights are on from 5-11 p.m. daily until Jan. 2.
• The Mussatos have a wonderful bright-light Christmas display at 11548 86A Ave. featuring thousands of lights and lawn ornaments. Come take and look and get into the Christmas spirit. The display is lit up 5-11 p.m.
• Candy Cane Lane welcomes visitors to a light extravaganza at the corner of 165A St. and 63B Ave.
• The Griswolds are at it again at 12880 104A Ave.
• The Fox family’s display at 11478 139 St. is a large and colourful one with many new additions this year. Open 5-10 p.m. until Jan. 1.
• Check out Surrey’s largest Christmas tree at Central City Plaza, 10153 King George Blvd.
• The Lambert House at 11082 Jay Cres. has done it again. This fantastic display features more than 10,000 lights synchronized to music. The show runs every half hour Sunday through Thursday from 5-10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5-11 p.m.. It is also broadcast on 89.1 FM.
• Bring the kids and see the North Pole right here in Surrey at 15097 90A Ave. There are more than 10,000 lights to see. Also take in the nativity scene. On Dec. 21 from 6-9:30 p.m., Santa and Frosty will be on-site to visit. There will be candy canes and hot chocolate for the kids and coffee for the grown-ups. Bring your cameras and have some fun. Walk through or just drive past, every night from 6-10 p.m. until Jan. 1
• The Lagerstroms’ Christmas Light Show is on nightly until Dec. 31 at 15466 91A Ave. Thousands of lights synchronized to music. Hours are Sunday to Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m.; Christmas and Boxing Day, 5 p.m. to midnight; and New Year’s Eve, 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. For more information, check out lightup.ca.
• Gheorghe and Rodica Grigore have put up another Christmas lights spectacular at 6369 165A St. with more than 50,000 lights, including 200 icicles on top of the house plus an eight-foot and 12-foot Santa Claus. There is also a musical Christmas lights show with 20 different songs. Lights on 5-11 p.m. Monday to Thursday and weekends 5 p.m. to midnight. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve the lights are on all night.
• The Kinna family lights up again at 16956 60A Ave. Nightly from 5-10 p.m. until Jan. 2.This is the family’s fifth Christmas raising money for Surrey Memorial Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
• The Gingerbread House at 6598 192A St. features interactive singing Santas, the North Pole, lots of lights, a countdown and M&Ms.
• Kristin Catroppa has decorated her house at 2165 123 St. with approximately 100,000 lights and will open her gate from Thursday to Sunday until Christmas to allow people to walk through and take a look. Donations being accepted for the Surrey Christmas Bureau. The Magical Dreams Foundation will match all donations received
Other holiday homes submitted to Black Press include:
• 14380 66 Ave. This year’s display features 5,007 lights, including a beautifully lit tree in the front yard.
• 12755 114A Ave. Christmas lights synchronized to music: Dial 107.1 FM to hear the music.
• 7311 194 St. Lots of lights and animated figures.