You don’t have to be a senior to enjoy this year’s Christmas light tour route in Red Deer.
The annual tour, sponsored by the Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs in Red Deer, takes place tonight for local seniors. But anyone else who wants to check out the same route can do so any time during the season.
Lisa Martin, Kinette Club member and route mapper the past nine years, said there will be 276 seniors, in six City of Red Deer Transit buses and two Action buses, touring Christmas light displays tonight.
Nine years ago when she first got involved, they only had 50 seniors, Martin said.
The seniors have pre-registered and will come from 18 different lodges. The cost of the buses is covered by the Kin clubs.
After the seniors go around and see the lights on approximately a 45-minute trip, they all return to the Westerner for choir music, and cookies and coffee donated by local businesses.
Martin said 70 per cent of the route is the same as in previous years but the rest of it is new this year. When she was roaming around designing the route this year, some light displays from previous years weren’t up. But she discovered some new displays and included them in this year’s route.
The weather is expected to co-operate with the temperature around -8C tonight but it doesn’t matter if it’s cold or not, the seniors still come, said Martin.
For those who want to do the tour on their own during the coming weeks, it might be a good idea to take a look at a map before heading out, and bring along a navigator.
And anyone who wants to venture a little further, the Parkland Nurseries ice sculptures can now be viewed at their location just east of Red Deer until Jan. 10. A donation to the food bank is appreciated.
The Linton family just south of Red Deer is taking a break and will not have their annual display this year.
barr@www.reddeeradvocate.com