Christmas in Williams Park was several steps closer to being ready after volunteers turned out to help restring and untangle display lights and carry out other prep work on Saturday, said Barb Sharp, president of the non-profit society that hosts the annual holiday light show.
Sharp was delighted by the turnout in response to the society鈥檚 call for assistance, with about a dozen people showing up on Saturday, Nov. 25.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of it got done,鈥� Sharp told the 91原创 Advance Times.
鈥淪anta is now in the sleigh [display]. I was able to wrap three deer and a candle, and do three wreaths [myself]. We got all the mini trees done and we got the firewood all put in, for having fires in the shed at night for the volunteers 鈥� so we can stay warmer.鈥�
While some of the displays were not repairable, all those that were, have been fixed, and there are just a few 鈥渟maller things鈥� remaining, Sharp said.
鈥淲e will have the odd thing to still work on, but I think we鈥檝e done really well.鈥�
One volunteer, B.C.Hot Rod Association vice-president Dave Tomlinson, came back a few days later to finish working on one of four deer displays he鈥檚 been working on during Saturday鈥檚 work party, Sharp noted.
It also turned out one of the displays, a 鈥渕ega-tree鈥� was missing some long strips of light that will require an express cross-border shipment to replace.
鈥淭hose are getting FedEx鈥檇 to me from contacts of mine in the U.S.A., so that I can get those here on time,鈥� Sharp disclosed.
鈥淭hose strips actually come originally from Australia.鈥�
READ ALSO: Volunteers needed to string up lights at Christmas in Williams Park
Newer attractions this year will include a six-feet-tall, 12-feet-wide 鈥減eacock tail鈥� with multicoloured lights that move and a 12-foot 鈥渃handelier of lights鈥� created last year by one of the volunteers.
Another new addition, to deter thieves, is a donated industrial-strength 24/7 security camera system.
READ ALSO: Organizers of this year鈥檚 Christmas in Williams Park plan for next year
Running since 1991, the event was nearly cancelled this year when the society was advised 91原创 Township parks staff would no longer be available to set up and take down lights, which led to a public outcry and a council vote to maintain municipal support for at least another year.
READ ALSO: Christmas in Williams Park will go on this year, council confirms
Beginning Friday, Dec. 1, Christmas in Williams Park runs from 5 to 9 p.m. at . Admission is free, and donations will go towards more lights, and replacing existing lights.
The light exhibit will end earlier than usual, on Sunday, Dec. 17.
Prospective volunteers for the evenings are asked to email Kathy McMahon at KMcmahon@myyahoo.com to get an available time slot.
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