Red Deer's best and brightest holiday light displays have been revealed.
The annual Christmas Light Tour list has been released, featuring a number of locations throughout the city showcasing dazzling displays of Christmas spirit. This is the 21st year that Jim Elliott and his son Aaron have mapped out the city’s most impressive light shows.
"We hope this Christmas Light Tour inspires people to see what the lights represent, see the beauty all around them, to find community in other people and to have an event to look forward to in tough times," the Elliotts stated in this year's 2024 Christmas Light Tour release.
"We are grateful for all those who were able to decorate and everyone who participated in the light tour. This community event is not possible without you."
This year's light tour features various areas throughout Red Deer, including City Hall, Glendale, Normandeau, Oriole Park, Fairview, West Park, Bower, Mountview, Grandview, Clearview, Rosedale, Deer Park, Range Road 265 and the Parkland Gardens. The listed route take about an hour and a half to drive through.
"Red Deer holds the Ross Street Patio with hanging decorations and small ice sculptures," the Elliotts state.
"Also, there is the Waskasoo Park Trail System, with many trees decorated by fellow Red Deerians. Heritage Ranch holds their Winter Lights Tour, with 50,000 Christmas lights, hot chocolate, and a horse drawn sleigh ride. Please also consider donating goods to the Food Bank or a charitable organization that you trust to help people in need this season.
Here's the route for this year's Christmas Light Tour:
— Start at Donald School of Business (4909 49 St.)
— Head east on 49 Street
— Left on 47 Avenue
— Left on Ross Street, circling around City Hall Park
— Right on 49 Avenue
— Left on 60 Street
— Right on Riverview Ave, onto 59 Avenue
— Right on 71 Street, Onto Niven Street
— Left on Nance Avenue
— Left on Nolan Street, onto Grant Street
— Left on 59 Avenue
— Right on 67 Street
— Left on Taylor Drive
— Right on Overdown Drive
— Right on Ohio Close
— Out of Ohio Close and right on Overdown Drive
— Left on Oleander Drive
— Right on Taylor Drive
— Right on Kerry Wood Drive
— Right on Fir Street
— Left on Fern Road, where lots of large inflatables can be seen
— Left on Kerry Wood Drive
— Right on Taylor Drive,
— Right on 45 Street, onto 55 Avenue
— Right on 43 Street
— Right on Westgate Avenue
— Left on Wiltshire Boulevard
— Right on Welton Crescent and back to Wiltshire Boulevard
— Left on Westgate Avenue
— Left on 43 Street
— Right on 55 Avenue
— Left on 37 Street, onto 54 Ave Crescent, then onto 35 Street
— Left on 55 Avenue
— Right on Wells Street
— Left on 57 Avenue
— Right on 32 Street
— Right on Taylor Drive
— Left on 22 St, onto Boyce Street
— Right on Barrett Drive
— Left on Bettenson Street
— Right on Baines Crescent, where there are large trees and penguins, and out
— Left on Bettenson Street
— Left on Barrett Drive, where there are two conveyer belts
— Continue on Barrett Dr, where you'll see a beautiful front yard
— Left on Barrett Street
— Right on 32 Street
— Left on Spruce Drive
— Right on 35 Street
— Left on 45 Avenue
— Right on 37 Street
— Left on 43 Avenue, where there are beautiful white, yellow and orange lights
— Right on 47 Street
— Left on 40 Avenue
— Right on 50 Street
— Left on Cornett Drive, onto Rollis Street
— Left on Rutherford Drive
— Right on Ramsay Avenue
— Left on Randolph Street, onto Raabis Street
— Left on Robinson Crescent, where there is a giant candy cane
— Left on Reinholt Avenue
— Right on Reichley Street
— Left on Rideout Avenue, onto Donlevy Avenue
— Left on Dempsey Street, onto Duston Street
— Left on Deschner Close, moving counter-clockwise around the close
— Left on Dynes Street
— Right on Deschner Close and out
— Right on Duston Street
— Right on 39 Street, onto Township Rand 382
— Left on Range Road 265
— Left on 38254 Range Road 265, where there are tons of trees lit up across a lawn
— Left on Range Road 265
— Left on Highway 11, finishing at the Parkland Garden Centre where ice sculptures are located
The Elliotts also recommend a few places not listed in the Christmas Light Tour, including the Sylvan Lake Twinkle Tour, the Town of Blackfalds' Christmas lights at the town centre, Discovery Wildlife Park in Innisfail, the Lacombe Light Up the Night celebrations, the Stettler Twinkle Tour, and Candy Cane Lane in Edmonton.
