This was published 7 years ago
Where to see Canberra's Christmas lights this weekend
By Georgina Connery
Geoff Wood and his family put two months of work into their display each year and relish December nights where they are able to create a wonderful world of Christmas at the flick of a switch.
A huge Christmas tree stands proud on their flat roof, dazzling strings of LED bulbs drop from the eves and are woven through bushes and trees in the garden.
Alyssa Orr, 4, enjoys the Christmas lights in Fraser. Credit: Jay Cronan
Thomas the Tank Engine and friends loop along a track in the front yard under the gaze of a six-foot-tall Nutcracker.
And just outside a Santa's workshop in the garage a bubble machine creates a stream of iridescence baubles that float through the air.
Ashton Osborne (3), Jacob Gowland (5), Elsie Osborne (4) enjoy the Christmas lights in Fraser. Photo Jay CronanCredit: Jay Cronan
"The Christmas Lights is something that has evolved over the last 15 years," Mr Wood said. "My wife now gets involved and for the past four years she has been developing a diorama in our three-car garage."
The series of miniature christmas scenes are all made with Lemax Models.
"That's what I call Santa's workshop," he said. "There are different themes from snow themes to Australian themes. We take them all out of the box and it takes us about two months to put it all together"
But for those of you thinking "christmas lights competition is getting pretty stiff", Mr Wood said it was not about what was on show but the energy created as people interacted with the wide variety of displays in the city.
Crowds enjoy Christmas lights in Fraser.Credit: Jay Cronan
Mr Wood said he gave visitors glow sticks to take with them and remember the fun they'd had.
"It's something they can take home and remember it by," he said.
Dianne Wood with her Christmas lights in Fraser.Credit: Jay Cronan
But it was about far more than receiving "glowing reports", he joked.
"We just do it for fun. For the fun of the community," he said.
"What we really try to do is getting interactivity going. Getting the community involved, kids involved and making sure people are engaged."
Mr Wood said he had seen people of all ages come to visit and expected more as they kept their lights on and doors open until January 1, including on Christmas night.
Add your home to The Canberra Times Christmas Map for your chance to win.
Send in your address and photos to be in the running for four gold passes to the ACT Brumbies or Canberra Raiders match of your choice next season.
Entries are open now. Jump online and be part of it before the competition closes at 2pm Friday, December 23, 2016.
Canberra Milk is sponsoring the Christmas lights map, but all content is independent.