Workers and volunteers have been in the process of stringing up Christmas lights for weeks now in and around Victoria Park in preparation for Christmas Magic.
On Tuesday, November 15, 2022, Ironwood Tree and Landscape along with Northumberland Crane and Tree Service volunteered their services to bring in a 28′ blue spruce that was 15′ wide and weighed approximately 1,500 pounds from Nawautin Drive in Grafton to Rotary Harbourfront Rink in Cobourg.
Escorted by Cobourg Police Services the tree was carefully transported along County Road 2 and down to the harbour area before being placed in a hole and filled with cement for the season of Christmas.
In Victoria Park, workers and volunteers are diligently trying to put up the Christmas lights that pesky squirrels seem to be feasting on.
Events Coordinator with the Town of Cobourg, Jackie Chapman Davis understands the trees are the squirrels home, but over the years, the squirrels chewing through the cords has become a problem.
The light strands are sprayed with a soya base to make the cords last longer, which is good for the cords, but attracts the squirrels.
“We don’t have the same problem in Rotary Harbourfront Park, but in Victoria Park it is a problem. The wildlife here like the lights.”
One day workers and volunteers will hang the lights on trees in the park, and the next day when they come back they find the wires have been chewed through.
Volunteers worked hard to repair what they can of the lights, but a lot of the lights damaged have to be thrown out.
“It happens every year and it happens until they go off (at the end of Christmas Magic).”
Every day the lights are checked and in cases where the lights need to be repaired – they are fixed.
“Some of them can be put back together, it just depends how much they chew through them.”
“It is a problem. And it is a challenge every single year because there is nothing we can do.”
In some cases, “the animals are chewing through them as fast as we are putting them up.”
The budget for Christmas Magic is $30,000 which is spread over Rotary Harbourfront Park and Victoria Park.
This years Christmas Magic will started at Rotary Harbourfront Park and after that is lit, people will follow Santa and walk through the Victoria Park Campgrounds to Victoria Park.
Northumberland Fare Share Food Back will be on location at Rotary Harbourfront Park accepting donations.
The event starts on Friday, November 25, 2022 at 6 p.m. at Rotary Harbourfront Park.
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
