Crazy Christmas Lights at Empress
By Joan Janzen
If you’re driving near the west side of the Alberta/Saskatchewan border some evening this month, be sure to stop by the village of Empress, Alberta. After 6:00 p.m. you’ll be able to enjoy Dawna and Carman’s Crazy Christmas Lights!
Dawna Martin and Carman Cooper own five lots in the centre of Empress. You won’t have any trouble finding their place because it’s lit up with 50,000 Christmas lights! Last year, their light display consisted of 40,000 lights; this year it’s bigger and better with the additions of the North Pole and a nativity scene.
“We started doing it ten years ago because of the kids; now everybody expects it,” Dawna explained. “At first people could drive by; now they can come in and walk around because we finished the path ways. We have a box out front for the food bank, and we take the non-perishable food items up to Oyen.” The couple collects three or four boxes of food, as well as monetary donations for the food bank every year.
“We enjoy watching the kids when they go through. Seeing their faces light up makes it all worthwhile; that’s what it’s all about,” Dawna said. “We start setting up in September and go hard core in October and November to get ready by November 25th. Then we have that extra week to make sure everything will work, but weather does factor into this.”
The couple hosts a walk through for the public one evening in December, and takes bookings during the remainder of the month. Throughout the month of December, up to 200 people have come out to tour the lights which are on display from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
“We had an electrician come out a few years ago to accommodate more lights. Now we’re close to max,” Dawna said. “There’s miles and miles of extension cords.”
Dawna invites people who want to see their Crazy Christmas Lights to call 403-565-2777 or reach her on Facebook.
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