After COVID put a dampener on things for the last couple of years, Christmas enthusiasts in Ballina and Lennox Head are going all out with their public light displays this year, attracting many families to enjoy the electric magic.
One of the big attractions is the display put on by the residents of Sanctuary Village, on Ross Lane in Lennox Head. Last night there were cars parked way up and down both sides of the street (there’s very limited room to park inside, as the elf at the entrance was reminding visitors).
The good thing about the cars staying outside the gate is that it’s very safe for families with young children to walk around inside the village and admire the lights.
Visitors are also able to have their photos taken with Santa at No.80, and support the Our House charity at Lismore via a donation.
Santa’s helper Grace Moloney said 2023 has been extra busy so far, with the village raising money for Our House for many years now, even before it was built. In previous years they have raised over $4,000, with Santa appearing every night from December 15 until Christmas Eve, and the lights continuing after that until New Year’s Eve.
The more the merrier
Mrs Moloney told The Echo the village loved having all the visitors wandering through admiring the lights. ‘Everyone’s friendly!’ she said.
Santa said it was great to see all the people back after COVID. ‘The more the merrier! I like to spread the Christmas spirit. That’s what this is all about,’ he said.
Santa said that while all the kids told him they’d been good, he had a few trick questions to reveal the truth, so watch out kids!
Over at Elkhorn Parade in North Ballina, sisters Colette Manihera and Renee Dunwoodie-Halverson have created a walk-through winter wonderland, complete with edible-looking Christmas old-fashioned Xmas treats, all whipped up by hand by Renee with ingredients like stucco and pool noodles, the result of months of painstaking work.
‘It’s like a four dimensional storybook,’ they explained, with over 200 people going through each night on average, all completely free, though people are welcome to donate lollies and the like to hand out to the children.
It’s not just for kids either, with older people dropping in on their way to a big night out and a lady of 90 coming to visit the display twice so far this year.
People can have their photos taken, with dress-up items for everyone including dogs. After three years, the annual display is getting ‘bigger and better’.
Wee bit of joy
Renee explained that she was inspired to give the community kids ‘a wee bit of joy’ after COVID. Colette says her sister is a genius. ‘It’s just her vision from loving people and loving Christmas and wanting to share.’
Renee told The Echo she was a stroke victim. After multiple strokes and heart attacks, she found a new creative spark when she got out of hospital.
‘I got blessed with a second chance and I wanted to give this to the world,’ she explained.
Most night, the display is open until 11pm, but the elf sisters of Elkhorn Parade will go until midnight on Xmas Eve.
Christmas light trail
If you’re looking for the best spots to admire the Christmas lights around Ballina Shire this season, check out:
- Sanctuary Village on Ross Lane (just up from the roundabout), in Lennox Head
- West Ballina: 13 Howard Crescent, 26 Rainbow Avenue and Leach Crescent.
- North Ballina: 30 Elkhorn Parade (walk through wonderland), Bantry Street and Cargellico Crescent.
- East Ballina: Lakeview Crescent, 6 Figtree Place and Jameson Avenue.
- Central Ballina: St Andrews Nursing Home, 34 Catherine Crescent, 16 Catherine Crescent, Camburt Street, Cnr. Swift and Clarence St, Hamilton St, 4 Wayside Place and 85 Burnett Street.
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