Last year’s “People’s Choice” winner Emma Young is setting up her Moore St home once again this year for the Waipa Christmas Light Trail, pictured here with her ‘little helpers’ Indie and Dyson.
Christmas is right around the corner, and homes around Cambridge are beginning to shine at night.
While some may simply staple a row of fairy lights across their front porch, others go all-out with their annual Christmas displays, setting up reindeer, snowmen or even baby Jesus on their front lawn.
It’s a practice that results in a shared enjoyment as families wander through the neighbourhood at night to see the Christmas glow.
The best and brightest houses are listed on the Waipa Christmas Light Trail, and residents can still register at www.blackfox.nz/xmas. People’s Choice voting opens today, December 6.
The Young family were the winners of last year’s People’s Choice award for a distinguished display in front of their Moore St home in Leamington.
“It doesn’t actually take that long,” said Emma Young, who along with husband Kerry and some help from daughters Deanna and Natalie, could finish their set-up in just two or three nights “if we just get stuck-in and get it done”.
Looking over her extensive collection of Christmas decorations, Emma said they would be adding “something new” this year and had already bought a blow-up Santa for the display. All going well, the plan was to have it set up by this coming weekend.
She confirmed the big snowman would make a return this year. “Lots of people loved the snowman, and it stood out during the day too.”
The Young family home on Moore St won “People’s Choice” last year as part of the Waipa Christmas Light Trail.
The display includes reindeer, a snowman, a Christmas tree made from tyres and thousands of lights.
“I think sometimes more is better,” she said when asked how to set up a good Christmas display. “The more you’ve got to choose from, the more impact it makes.
“We’ve just kept adding to the collection as we go along.”
This will be the fifth year the Youngs have turned their front lawn into an all-out Christmas wonderland.
She confirmed they had entered the Waipa Christmas Lights Trail again this year and would keep their lights on most nights until 11pm.
“We love sitting out here and seeing the people walking past, and sometimes the kids will have lollies they go out and give people.
“It’s just nice, for the enjoyment that people get out of it.”
