The windstorm that hit the Lower Mainland last Thursday, Dec. 20 was not big enough to steal the Christmas spirit from two Langley brothers’ holiday light display, despite tearing down some of the strings of lights they had worked hard to arrange.
Tony Beier and his brother, Peter, have spent multiple weekends in December setting up their annual musical light display at Peter’s house in Willowbrook.
And while last week’s windstorm tore down some of their lights, the brothers’ spirit stayed strong.
“Most of it has tipped over,” explained Tony, after the storm hit.
But he added it didn’t take too long to set back up.
And while Tony enjoys setting up the lights for the neighbourhood to view, he said there’s a deeper meaning as to why he started in the first place.
In 2001, while living in Surrey, Tony married his wife Lydia, who suffers seasonal depression.
“We both suffer from seasonal depression, but she has a harder time with it. So I started putting up the Christmas lights on the house in early October – when it was getting dark – to lift her spirits. This really seemed to help, so each year I added more and more lights.”
After moving from a townhouse into a condo a couple years ago, Tony relocated his light display to Peter’s house. There is more space to work with.
“We just love to share the joy. We enjoy it when people enjoy the display,” added Tony.
Tony, who used to work as a computer programmer, syncs the lights to music, which takes up to an hour per second of music to load onto his computer.
And Peter sets to work on arranging the lights and display along the house and yard.
Every year the display grows larger, and Peter added his favourite part of the display is a handcrafted Christmas tree that sits atop the roof and sings along to the music.
“We might have to sneak onto the neighbour’s yard [next year],” said Peter.
Visitors can turn their radio to 90.3 FM to listen to the holiday tunes and enjoy the show.
Every night until the new year, the music show will be played every half an hour, from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
The address is 2403 Wayburne Cres.
LANGLEY LIGHTS: All lit up
The following are on display now in Langley:
-Sherwood Light Display at 20656 44A Ave. daily from 4 to 10 p.m.
-Candy Cane Lane at 20388 43 Ave. daily from 5 to 10 p.m.
-Dan Warkentin’s lights at 9211 211B St. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and daily from Dec. 14 onward.
-Ron Farmer’s lights at 23924 68th Ave. daily from 5 to 11 p.m.
-The Ilott Christmas Display at 9451 216B St. daily from 6 to 9 p.m.
-Wish Upon a Star at 19367 62A Ave. in Surrey, daily from 5 p.m. to midnight
-Multiple homes are lit up in the blocks of 66 Ave. along 192A St., and 193 St.
-Christmas in Williams Park on 238th Street and 68th Ave. daily until Dec. 22 from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
-The Land of Christmas on 20169 32 Ave. from Dec. 7 to 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
-Troy and Debbie Warren’s light display on 20294 50th Ave. daily until New Year’s Day from 4 p.m. until sunrise.
-James Aylen’s Candy Cane Lane daily at 3632 202 St. from 4 to 11 p.m.
-Holiday inflatables and lights daily at 4284 208th St. until the New Year
-Rocco and Cory’s Wacky Wonderland all day until Dec. 31 at 19970 46th Ave.
-Glow Christmas returns to Langley’s Milner Village Garden Centre until Jan. 19. Tickets required and available online at www.glowgardens.com
