The 2022 Red Deer Christmas Lights Tour, spotlighting impressive displays throughout the city, has been compiled by the father and son team of Jim and A.J. Elliott.
For years, the Elliotts have been cruising around Red Deer in the weeks before Christmas, to scope out the most beautiful neighbourhood light displays.
The self-guided tour routes they provide as an annual good-will gesture to the public have expanded in size and scope as the city has grown — until the full 2022 Light Tour would take a full six hours and 18 minutes to complete, adding 144 kilometres to vehicle odometers.
“It’s challenging to explore everything,” admitted Jim — so A.J. has provided people with limited time a best-of route map, featuring highlights that are spread throughout the city.
This shorter route will take 1.5 hours to complete, and Red Deerians can decide how much of it to pursue. It features City Hall, Oriole Park, Fairview, West Park, Bower, Mountview, Grandview, Eastview, Michener, Clearview, Rosedale, Deer Park, Range Road 265, and the Parkland Gardens.
“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,” said Jim.
“We are grateful for all those who were able to decorate and everyone who participated in the light tour,” he added. “This community event is not possible without you.”
Jim encourages people to share the experience with relatives and friends.
The Highlights Route: Start at the Donald School of Business (4909 49 St), then go east on 49 St, L on 47 Ave, L on Ross St, (circling around City Hall and the Park - beautiful), R on Taylor Dr, L on Oleander Dr, R on Overdown Dr, L on Ohio Cl (breathtaking), out to R on Overdown Dr, L on Oleander Dr, R on Taylor Dr, R on Kerry Wood Dr, R on Fir St, L on Fern Rd (lots of large inflatables) , L on Kerry Wood Dr, R on Taylor Dr, R on 45 St, continue on to 55 Ave, R on 43 St, R on Westgate Ave, L on Wiltshire Blvd, R on Welton Cr (northern lights), back to Wiltshire Blvd, L on Westgate Ave, L on 43 St, R on Taylor Dr, L on 22 St, on to Boyce St, R on Barrett Dr, L on Bettenson St, R on Baines Cr (large trees and penguins), out to L on Bettenson St, L on Barrett Dr (classic two conveyer belts), continue on Barrett Dr (beautiful front yard), L on Barrett St, R on 32 St, L on Spruce Dr, R on 35 St, L on 45 Ave, R on 37 St, L on 43 Ave (beautiful white, yellow, and orange lights), R on 47 St, L on 40 Ave, R on 50A St, L on 38A Avenue, R on Michener Cr, L on Michener Green, L on Michener Cr, R on 50A St, L on 38 Ave, through Eastview to L on 39 St N (service 2 road), L on Edgington Cl, out to R on 39 St N, R on 35A Ave, R on 35 Ave, R on Excell St, L on Ellenwood Dr, L on Erickson Dr, onto Cornett Dr (white fence and Ferris Wheel house), on to Rollis St, L on Rutherford Dr, R on Ramsay Ave, L on Randolph St, onto Raabis St, L on Robinson Cr (giant Candy Cane), L on Reinholt Ave, R on Reichley St, L on Rideout Ave, onto Donlevy Ave, L on Dempsey St, onto Duston St, L on Deschner Cl, counter-clockwise around the Cl, L on Dynes St, R on Deschner Cl, out to R on Duston St, R on 39 St, onto Twp Rd 382, L on Rge Rd 265, L on 38254 Rge Rd 265 (tons of trees lit up across the lawn), L on Rge Rd 265, L on Hwy 11, returning to finish at the Parkland Garden Center (Ice Sculptures).
Elliott also encourages people to check out the Ross Street Patio, with hanging decorations and small ice sculptures, and also the Waskasoo Park Trail System, with many trees decorated by fellow Red Deerians. As well, Heritage Ranch holds its Winter Lights Tour, with 50,000 Christmas lights, hot chocolate, and a horse-drawn sleigh ride.
Other beautiful places to explore in the region are the Sylvan Lake and Stettler Twinkle Tours, Blackfalds, Lacombe and Ponoka Christmas lights, the Discovery Wildlife Park in Innisfail, and Candy Cane Lane in Edmonton, 140th to 148th Street.
For those who want the full Red Deer routes:
North: Start: 67 St North of Parkland Mall, Head North on Pamely Ave, R on Page Ave, R on Piper Dr, onto 68 St, onto Nash St, R on Neville Cl, counter-clockwise around the Cl, out to L on Nash St, L on Nyberg Ave, L on Niven St, R on Northey Ave, R on Nolan St, R on Newlands Ave, L on Niven St, L on Nance Ave, L on Nolan St, R on Noble Ave, R on Nurse St, R on Norton Ave, L on Norquay St, L on Nordegg Cr, R on Norton Ave, L on 76 St, R on Northey Ave, R on 77 St, L on Kentwood Dr, L on Kirton Cr, R on Kirton Cl, out to L on Kirton Cr, R on Kentwood Dr, R on Kingston Dr, L on Kelly St, onto Kennedy Dr, R on Kirkland Dr, R on Kendrew Dr, L on Kidd Cl, counter-clockwise around the Cl, R on Kendrew Dr, L on Krause Cr, L on Killburn Cr, R on Kendrew Dr, L on Kent St, onto Jordan Pkwy, R on Jaspar Cr, R on Jordan Pkwy, L on Jennings Cr, L on Jenner Cr, clockwise around the Cr, L on Jack Cr, R on Jennings Cr, L on Jordan Pkwy, onto Jamieson Ave, L on Jones Cr, L on Jarvis Ave, L on Jewell St, onto 75 St, L on 59 Ave, R on Grimson St, L on Gish St, L on Grieg Dr, L on Glendale Blvd, L on Gilbert Cr, R on Grote Cr, R on Gilbert Cr, R on Glendale Blvd, R on Gunn St, L on 59 Ave, L on Grant St, R on 59 Ave, L on 71 St, R on 70 St Dr to finish the North Route, north of Heritage Lanes Bowling.
Northwest: Start: Heading Northeast of Bower Ponds on Kerry Wood Dr, L on Fern Rd, R on Fairway Ave, L on Freemont Cl, continue R on Freemont Cl, R on Fern Rd, R on Fir St, L on Kerry Wood Dr, L on Taylor Dr, R on 60 St, R on 60 Ave, L on 55 St, L on 58A Ave, R on 57 St, L on 57 Ave, out to L on 60 St, L on 51 Ave, out to R on 60 St, R on 54 Ave/Riverview Dr, R on Hermany St, R on Hill Cr, L on Hermany St, R on Halladay Ave, L on Holmes St, onto 66 St Cl, out to R on 58 Ave, R on Hermany St, onto 63 St, onto Horn St, R on Humber Cl, back to L on Horn St, R on 61 Ave, onto Howarth St, L on Howlett Ave, R on Halliburton Cr, L on Haste St, L on Howlett Ave, L on Howarth St, R on Taylor Dr, L on Oliver St, R on Odell Gn, continue L on Odell Gn, L on Overdown Dr, L on Oates Gn, continue R on Oates Gn, L on Oliver St, R on Orient Gn, continue out of Gn, R on Oak St, onto Oak Dr, R on Orr Dr, L on Oswald Cl, back to L on Orr Dr, R on Ogilvie Cl, back to L on Orr Drive, L on Oak Dr, R on Overdown Dr, back to R on Overdown Dr, L on Orwell Cl, out to R on Overdown Dr, R on Olsen St, R on Oleander Dr, R on Oldbury St, L on Ogden Ave, L on Ockley Cl, back to L on Ogden Ave, L on Oxbow St, R on Oleander Dr, L on Otterbury Ave, L on Oberlin Ave, L on Oreston Cl, back to R on Oberlin Ave, R on Otterbury Ave, R on Oleander Dr, L on Oxbow St, R on Ogden Ave, L on Osborne St, L on Overdown Dr, R on Ohio Cl to finish the Northeast Route, west of Bower Ponds.
Southwest: Start: Taylor Drive heading South by Carnival Cinemas, R on 43 St, R on Westgate Ave, R on Wiltshire Blvd, L on Welton Cr, L on Wiltshire Blvd, R on Westgate Ave, R on 43 St, on to Cronquist Dr, L on Walker Blvd, make a U-turn at the second road, R on Weddell Cr, L on White Ave, R on Wishart St, R on Wilson Cr, L on Wilkins Gn, continue out R on the Gn, R on Welliver St, L on Wright Ave, R on 35 St, L on 57 Ave, R on 36 St, L on 55 Ave, R on 37 St, onto 54 Ave Cr, onto 35 St, L on 57 Ave, L on Wells St, R on 55 Ave, L on 32 St, R on Springfield Ave, R on Selkirk Blvd, R on Stanley Cr, out to R on Selkirk Blvd, L on Sutton Cl, counter-clockwise around the Cl, back to L on Selkirk Blvd, L on Sydney Cl, counter-clockwise around the Cl, out to L on Selkirk Blvd, L on Springfield Ave, R on Sherwood Cr, continue L on Sherwood Cr, R on Stirling Cl, continue R on Stirling Cl, L on Spencer St, R on Springfield Ave, L on 32 St, L on 47 Ave, onto 30 St, L on Bremner Ave, L on Molly Bannister Dr, onto Barrett Dr, R on Baird St, R on Barner Ave, R on Bettenson St, R on Brown Cl, back to L on Bettenson St, L on Baines Cr, around the Cr, L on Bettenson St, L on Barrett Dr, L on Baird St, R on Berry Ave, R on Best Cr, R on Berry Ave, R on Barrett Dr to finish the Southwest Route, north of Westerner Park.
Central: Start: Spruce Dr facing north of 32 St (across the creek from Kin Kanyon), R on 37 St, R on 45 Ave, L on 35 St, R on 41 Ave, R on 33 St, R on 43 Ave, L on 41A Ave, R on 40 St, onto 41 Ave, R on 44 St, R on 40A Ave, R on 42 St, R on 42 Ave, L on 44 St, R on 43 Ave, R on 47 St, L on 40 Ave, L on 52 St, onto 42 Ave, L on 51A St, R on 40 Ave, L on 50A St, L on 38A Ave, R on Michener Cr, L on Michener Gn, L on Michener Cr, R on 50A St, L on 38 Ave, L on 50 St, R on Erickson Dr, L on Eastman Cr, R on Everitt Cr, R on Eastman Cr, L on Erickson Dr, R on Ellenwood Dr, L on Elwell Ave, R on Eakins Cr, L on East Cl, back to L on Eakins Cr, L on Eline St, L on Elwell Ave, R on Elliot Cr, R on Elwell Ave, L on Ellenwood Dr, R on Excell St, L on Edwards Cr, R on Edwards Cl, out to L on Edwards Cr, L on Excell St, L on 35 Ave, L on 35A Ave, R on 39 St N, L on 38 Ave, L on 39 St, L on Edgington Ave, back to L on 39 St, R on Metcalf Ave, L on McDougall Cr, R on McCullough Cr, L on Muir Ave, R on McLean St, R on Metcalf Ave, L on Manning St, R on Maxwell Ave, L on 39 St S, L on MacFarlane Ave, onto Michiels St, L on Mitchell Ave, L on Munro Cr, R on Martin Cl, L on Mitchell Ave, R on Malcolm Cr, L on McConnell Cl, out to L on Malcolm Cr, L on McBride Cr, L on 40 Ave to finish the Central Route by the corner of 40 Ave and 32 St.
Southeast: Start: 30 Ave heading South of 22 St, R on Ironstone Dr, R on llingworth Cl, continue R, out to R on Inglewood Dr, L on Ingersol St, L on Ireland Cr, R on Ingersol St, L on Inglewood Dr, onto Austin Dr, R on Allsop Dr, L on Alton St, R on Alton Cl, out to L on Alton St, L on Allsop Dr, R on Allan St, R on Aikman Cl, out to L on Allan St, R on Abbott Ave, R on Anders St, L on Ayers Ave, R on Anquetel St, R on Ansett Cr, R on Allan St, L on Avery St, onto Lees St, L on Lockwood Ave, R on Logan Cl, counter-clockwise around the Cl, out to R on Lockwood Ave, L on Lancaster Dr, L on Lanterman Cl, around the Cl, L on Lancaster Dr, R on Lister Cr, L on Lockwood Ave, R on Lancaster Dr, L on Lagrange Crescent, R on Lindsay Ave, L on 22 St, L on Lalor Dr, onto Lazaro Cl, out to L on Lalor Dr, L on 22 St, R on Viscount Dr, L on Van Slyke Way, L on Vancouver Cr, continue out to L on Van Slyke Way, R on Vermont Ave, L on Viscount Dr, L on Vanson Cl, continue out to L on Viscount Dr, L on Vanier Dr, R on Vickers Cl, continue counter-clockwise around the Cl to finish the Southeast Route near 22 Street.
Northeast: Start: Head North on Garrison Cir in Garden Heights, counter-clockwise around the Cir, out to R on Greenway St, R on Garden Gt, onto Carrington Dr, R on Caribou Cr, R on Carrington Dr, R on Connaught Cr, R on Clearview Dr, L onto Crossley St, L on Cooper Close, counter-clockwise around the Cl, out to L on Crossley St, onto Timothy Dr, R on Timberstone Way, L on Teasdale Dr, L on Truant Cr, R on Tanner St, L on Truant Cr, L on Tanner St, R on Thomlison Ave, at the roundabout, continue straight on Thomlinson Ave, onto Reichley St, R on Reinholt Ave, L on Rowell Cl, counter-clockwise around the Cl, out to R on Reinholt Ave, L on Robinson Cr, R on Raabis St, onto Randolph St, R on Rutledge Cr, R on Ramsey Ave, onto Russell Cr, L on Richards Cr, R on Ray Ave, R on Rollis St, L on Rupert Cr, L on Reeves Cr, L on Roth Cr, R on Rupert Cr, out to L on Rollis St, onto Cornett Dr, L on Carroll Cr, L on Chappel Dr, R on Carpenter St, R on Cornett Dr, L on Clark Cr, R on Crawford St, make a U-turn out to L on Clark Cr, L on Cornett Dr to finish the Northeast Route at the house with the white picket fence and stunning decorations, near 30 Ave.
East: Start: Facing East on 39 St between Eastview and Morrisroe, R on Douglas Ave, R on Dunning Cr, L on Dunlop St, R on Dixon Ave, R on Dixon Cr, continue R on Dixon Cr, L on Douglas Ave, R on 39 St, L on Davison Dr, L on Denison Cr, L on Dodds St, R on Duncan Cr, L on Dawson St, R on Dobler Ave, R on Dickenson Cr, onto Doran Cr, R on Dalton Cl, out to R on Doran Cr, R on Doan Ave, out to L on Dempsey St, R on Dodge Avenue, onto Dowler St, L on Daniel Cr, counter-clockwise around the Cr, L on Dowler St, L on Duffield Ave, R on Duston St, R on Dale Cl, out to L on Duston St, R on Duckering Cl, counter-clockwise around the Cl, out to R on Duston St, R on Deschner Cl, counter-clockwise around the Cl, L on Dynes St, R on Deschner Cl, out to R on Duston St, R on 39 St, onto Twp Rd 382, L on Rge Rd 265, L on 38254 Rge Rd 256, back to L on Rge Rd 265, L on Hwy 11, R to finish the East Route at the Parkland Garden Center (Ice Sculptures)
Downtown: Start: Heading West on 50 St (Ross) by The Little Ice Cream Shoppe, R on 50A St, onto 45 Ave, R on 53 St, L on 44 Ave, R on 55 St, R on 43 Ave, L on 53 St, L on 42A Ave, L on 55 St, R on 47A Ave, L on 56 St, L on 48A Ave, R on 55 St, L on Hwy 2A (Gaetz [50] Ave) S, stay in left lane onto (Little) Gaetz Ave, L on 46 St, L on 47A Ave, L on 48 St, R on Gaetz Ave N, L on 50 St, L on Taylor Dr, R on 47 St (Capstone), onto 45 St, onto 44 St Cr, L on 45 St, L on Taylor Dr, L on 49 St W, L on 50 St W, to finish the Downtown Route at City Hall and the Park.
