Every December, the City of Langford lights up — quite literally — in preparation for the holiday season.
Trees are lit and Veteran’s Memorial Park is adorned with a bright, colourful display of Christmas lights for residents to enjoy.
According to George Henshall, deputy director of engineering and public works with the City of Langford, this year’s light up celebration was the biggest one yet.
“It was packed … I’ve never seen so many people, it was in the thousands,” Henshall said.
Each year, the city allocates $25,000 towards the Christmas lights. Henshall said they recycle lights that are burnt out and order replacements in July just so they get here in time to be installed.
Installation of the lights takes about six weeks with four workers working day shifts and night shifts to adorn trees, shrubs and the city with hanging lights.
They typically start installing them around early October so that they are ready to go for the light up celebration which, this year, took place on Dec. 1.
“I think [the workers] really appreciate the lights when they’re done,” Henshall said. “For the most part the guys get a lot of comments like ‘good job’ so it makes them feel pretty good.”
The lights will start to come down in January with coloured ones being the first to go. The white lights will stick around until the end of February.
Henshall said as the city expands, the lights will too with places like Belmont Market being added to the list of places that will receive the festive decorations next year.
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shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com
