Cobourg is doing its best to keep the magic of Christmas alive.
Community Events Coordinator Jackie Chapman Davis along with volunteers Dave Crees and Ward McCance have been busy for several days getting things ready in Victoria Park and other areas preparing for the annual Christmas Magic display.
Town staff have also been extremely busy hoisting stars that will light up the night sky in Victoria Park.
Chapman Davis said they are doing their best, “taking advantage of the super nice weather.”
Unfortunately because of COVID-19 there will be no official kick-off to Christmas Magic that usually brings hundreds of people to downtown Cobourg.
But the good news is the lights will still be on in all the regular spots including Victoria Park, the Rotary Outdoor Skating Rink and the bandshell will have a gingerbread theme. The good news is King Street will be lined with Christmas trees.
For the first time there will be 25 stars hanging from the trees in Victoria Park and Chapman Davis guarantees it’s going to look “super pretty.”
“It will still be nice, bright and merry.”
“We’re doing something fun to announce to everybody when the lights are going to be actually on.”
But until that time – it’s a secret.
Each year, volunteers check the 180,000 lights to make sure they are working properly and if they need to be replaced, new ones are bought locally.
“The lights obviously age and break in the weather, but we have a real problem with squirrels. Every year we use as much as we can from previous years.”
One of the volunteers is a retired electrician and repairs as much as he can with the lights.
Dave Crees has volunteered for 20-years and this is Ward McCance’ second year volunteering. McCance is usually busy doing the lighting for Northumberland Players, but because of COVID-19 has a lot of spare time on his hands because of cancellations.
If anyone would like to help install the lights outside in Victoria Park contact Chapman Davis at jchapmandavis@cobourg.ca
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
