There are growing calls for Central Otago to embrace the Christmas spirit and decorate homes with Christmas lights, after suburban displays have gone out of fashion in recent years. 

Ashlee Ryan started the Facebook group Christmas Light Display In Alexandra and encourages others to deck their homes with lights.

She says she made it to make it easier for people around the town to know where displays are, discuss Christmas decorations or what is happening around town for families and the community.

She says it brings out the colours and how creative people can be, and of course it “brings happiness”.

“It brightens up the town and kids love it. It's also a good tradition to start. You decorate your tree but people don't see that. Maybe make it a decorating competition,” Ashlee says.

“Light up Alexandra. stick something out on your fence or front lawn or in your windows. Maybe we need something where the community can get involved in. We lost the Blossom Festival, so the community needs something this year.”

Member of the social media group, Nick Meissel says “Alexandra has almost zero Christmas spirit on display”.

“We moved from Hokitika years ago and they had lights, decorations and a fabulous tree. 

“People would come out in the evenings with their families and the atmosphere was lovely. It’d be nice to have a little bit of that here.”

Michelle Ryan says, “If we make even one person smile and lighten their day it's worth doing. Nothing gives more pleasure than seeing excited children looking at them”.

Michelle Ryan’s Christmas lights display. Photo: contributed. 

Jen Rolfe agreed: “We do our house with lights, makes me feel good and I know it makes other people feel good!”

Stacey Haig contacted The Central App to list her Fache Street, Clyde, home as a display.

She said she couldn’t find any group or place to list and share their Christmas joy. 

“We ourselves have a display we would be willing to list,” she wrote. 

“We love taking our daughter for a drive each Xmas to see all the lights, and wanted to know if there was a list of places somewhere to make our drive a little more purposeful, especially with the cost of fuel currently!

“I'm sure there would be others interested also.”

Stacey says their Christmas light display is all solar and their collection has slowly been built up over the last four to five years. 

“It all started with just one strand that we put up around the gutter, and has greatly expanded since then. 

“It has been hugely influenced by the wonderful displays our neighbours have each year.

“At the beginning of each December we spend nearly a whole day pulling all of the lights out of storage and decorating the house and gardens (and it takes even longer at the end of the month to put them all away!). 

“Each year it gets altered slightly, and becomes a little more elaborate. 

“Because it is a solar display, it isn't at its best after a grey day, as the batteries start to run out earlier in the night.”

Local Christmas lights have gone out of fashion somewhat, but locals are encouraging others to get in the spirit. 

Stacey says Christmas lights still bring the cheer to the community and liven the holiday spirit. 

“During these times especially I like to think that Christmas lights might help brighten someone's day, even just a little bit. 

“All the effort seems to feel worthwhile when you see someone just stop to watch for a few moments.

“It certainly brings a lot of excitement to the younger members of our family, and we have a tradition of going for a drive each year one night close to Christmas to see what other displays we can find. 

“There are so many light options available at different stores nowadays that each display is very different from the others, so it is very cool to see what other people have created.”