Light up Your 2021 Holiday Season
It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas at our house, and not just because the winter weather has moved in. It’s because the extension cords and ladders and the lights have as well. When they begin to take over our living room, I know the most wonderful time of the year is drawing near.
It started when a neighbour asked if we wanted the remnants of a Santa Claus Parade float and an armload of plastic candy canes later my husband was setting his sites on the Sparkle Tour. For anyone who has committed to Sparkle Tour level light displays, you know it’s a labour of love. Hours of testing faulty bulbs, pounding stakes into the frozen ground and hooking strings on icy eavestroughs. Then hours to do it all over again when you inevitably put the light string on backwards and find yourself with two male ends…every.single.year. But, it’s beautiful when it’s done and makes every night feel so magical you forget about what it took to make it happen.
If you want to take in the lights this year, here are 9 places you can appreciate the sweat, tears, and power bills of Saskatchewanians across the province.
- The granddaddy of sources for light locations across the province.
2- Saskatoon
- BHP Enchanted Forest at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm is a decades-old tradition that sees the zoo lit with colourful holiday scenes that would brighten any night. View the lights from the safety of your own vehicle or take a trolley tour through the lights with carols and cookies.
- If you’re not up for braving the cold, Glow Gardens at Prairie Land Park offers an indoor interactive experience that may give you your fix. As an added bonus for those itching to travel again, this year’s theme is “Glow Around the World”, making you feel like you are spending a bit of your Christmas on the streets of places far, far away.
3- Melfort
- Melfort took its “City of Northern Lights” slogan to the next level last year by upping their Christmas light game. In addition to the bright lights, there were reportedly ice and snow sculptures, and several residents even dressed up as characters to animate the scenes for passersby. If they do that again, this one will definitely be worth the drive! They are organizing participating homes into a self-guided tour with a map that promises to be available on their social media page. I’m watching closely.
4- North Battleford
- The local radio station and City of North Battleford organize a Twinkle Tour with a map with the top locations that have decorated for the season.
- Make sure to add a stop at the Western Development Museum for Light Up the Village where they light up their historical displays for the holidays.
5- Regina
- Local business Classic Landscape Company decided to brighten the night this year with a large light and inflatable display to compliment their Christmas store. There’s nothing like a little night shopping under the colored lights to get you in the spirit.
6- Weyburn
- On December 2, the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce puts on a parade of lights through downtown Weyburn. Get cozy in a comfy lawn chair and a sleeping bag and let floats full of lights come to you.
7- Moose Jaw
- The Wakamow Valley Authority in Moose Jaw has lit up a 1 km stretch near the campground with 100,000 lights. The valley also offers night skating once Mother Nature cooperates, so I’m watching their Facebook page to see if the ice will be ready in time to combine both activities in one trip.
8- Warman
- Warman has several great houses, but it’s one house takes it up a notch that’s the main draw. Aiming to rival the Griswold family light display, this ambitious resident offers an occasional visit from Santa and movies on an outdoor screen.
9- McLean
- On an acreage near McLean, you’ll find a Christmas lights extravaganza at Ian’s place. Over 55,000 lights welcome visitors for a donation to the Mental Health Unit at the Regina General Hospital. Last year filled up quickly so plan ahead and go early to avoid long line ups!
I truly wish I could take a great Saskatchewan light tour to see them all. Perhaps that’s what I’ll suggest we invest our time in instead next year before the annual cursing of the lights begins to slowly whisper on my husband’s breath in early November.
Did we miss a stand-out destination community our readers should visit? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!
Why not make it an evening by stopping at a local shop for hot chocolate and a baked snack while you are out and about? You can use the “Search Nearby” function on the Mysask411 app to help you shop small in your area!
Nova Alberts is a Marketing Manager on the Brand and Platform Team at Directwest