The plug may be pulled on the candy canes, Santa characters and toy soldiers that have lit up downtown streets for the past two decades.
There’s a plan in the works to replace the traditional Christmas decorations with “more general winter-oriented designs” as early as this fall.
“In the last few years we’ve got more and more comments on the Christmas decorations getting really dated,” acknowledged Jim Taylor, with the Downtown Business Association, the organization pushing for the extreme holiday makeover.
They were bought in 1987 and refurbished 10 years later, he said.
Taylor vowed the changes would be anything but dull. Among other things, he envisions “spectacular” two-metre snowflakes and stars made from energy-efficient LED lights hanging from light standards throughout the core.
Larger displays could be set up in future years at some of the key entrances into the downtown, Taylor said.
Instead of just being illuminated for the holidays, Taylor said the formations could go up in late October and remain powered until early April.
“Why would we just keep it lit for November, December and January?” Taylor said.
“We’re a winter city. We should be celebrating being a winter city.”
A report to city council estimates the cost of the upgrade at $400,000.
The city would pay the upfront costs – but would be repaid by downtown businesses, who would also foot the maintenance and power costs.
Mayor Stephen Mandel said he likes the idea, stressing Christmas would still be celebrated downtown, even if the colourful lights of Jasper become a plainer white.
“It’s not going to take away from Christmas – I hope not,” he said.
“We’re still going to have a tree, which probably won’t be that energy efficient … and people can look at that.”
Mandel said the manger scene, featuring live animals, will also continue to be set up outside city hall.
Coun. Ben Henderson said he has no problem getting rid of Christmas-specific lights in areas such as Jasper Avenue.
“There’s two things I like about it. One, it’s not just Christmas lighting, it’s winter-long.
“And two, is that there is a commitment to using LED.”
News of the proposed change was met with mixed reaction from Edmontonians enjoying the sun in Churchill Square yesterday.
“White lights have no spirit,” said Julia Buckholz. “I like the (old lights) because they’ve been around since I was a little girl.”
Debra Jinks disagreed, saying the old lights were starting to look “ratty” and that it was worth it to spruce them up.
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I think its a great idea!