Christmasland a homemade joy 30 years in the making

Beginning today, Don Moore is continuing a Christmas tradition of more than 30 years.

He will open his home at 4000 Century Rd. to the public, with an invitation to enter Christmasland, a homemade wonderland of Christmas joy and merriment in his basement.

In exchange, he’s asking for a financial donation to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund or Mustard Seed Street Church. Moore is also accepting non-perishable food items.

Christmasland is comprised of four rooms with areas inhabited by dozens of Santas and other themes displayed, from Christmas villages to Star Wars. There are 8,000 lights illuminating walls covered with wrapping paper that changes each year.

“The biggest comments I get are about the amount of time it takes to do it, and people can’t believe that every wall is covered with wrapping paper,” said Moore, who routinely updates his yuletide attraction.

Animated figurines, singing ornaments, nativity scenes, a holiday music jukebox and sections devoted to themes as diverse as The Wizard of Oz and Elvis ensure that “there’s something for everybody,” he says.

Moore credits his son Scott, 33, with inspiring him to create Christmasland. Born with a visual impairment, Scott was naturally attracted to light and noise, he said.

“When I noticed that, I started to put more lights up, and then things that made noise, danced and moved,” said Moore, whose son’s eyesight improved as he got older.

Moore’s wife, Sharon, and their other two sons — Shawn, 35, and Jesse, 18 — have been equally supportive of his Christmas project that snowballs each year.

“My wife loves it. We all do. It’s been a family thing since I started doing it,” said Moore, who reopened his charitable attraction last year after taking 2015 off “to recharge my batteries.”

Personal touches include the presence of a post office in the Christmas village which is a natural for Moore who retired four years ago from a 35-year career as a Canada Post letter carrier. There’s also a holiday baseball-themed table inspired by his four decades volunteering as a National Little League coach.

When Moore isn’t preoccupied with updating Christmasland, he’s kept busy as a volunteer with the Victoria Athletic Association and with Air Cadets squadrons.

Public tours of Christmasland will be held on Saturdays (Dec. 9, 16 and 23) from 1-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.; and Sundays (Dec. 10 and 17) from 1-4 p.m. at 4000 Century Rd. Entry is by donation.

Tours can also be arranged weekdays until Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 24 and 25) by emailing coachdon@shaw.ca to make an appointment.