Christmas lights spark up Manawatu
Whether it is a herd of glowing reindeer or Santa Claus parachuting out of a tree, Christmas lights are sparking festive cheer throughout Manawatu.
Nineteen homes in Palmerston North, Feilding, Bulls, Foxton and Marton are dressed to the nines with lights and decorations for this year’s Professionals Christmas Lights Spectacular.
Bill Williams, who is part of the competition, has decorated his property with ‘‘thousands and thousands and thousands’’ of lights each year, since moving to Feilding from Marton in 2004.
His house, garden and clock museum are draped in an array of colourful lights in celebration of the festive season.
A generator runs about 50 bundles of lights, while the rest are powered by his home electricity.
He said the light show in December costs him about four times his usual power bill for the month.
But it was all worth it, simply because he enjoyed Christmas and seeing people’s reactions to the display.
‘‘I love it. The kids think they’re great and their parents love them too.’’
It takes Williams and his family about two months to put the display together and one month to remove it all.
Williams gets right into the Christmas spirit, dressing up as Santa Claus for a couple of nights in December.