Rutland residents will be showing their Christmas camaraderie with the seventh annual Candy Cane Lane.
About 70 houses will be decorated for the holiday season along Collison Road, Gramiak Road and Mary Court, said event spokesperson John Sharhon.
What started as a friendly neighbour rivalry grew into a street-wide event, with neighbours helping each other set up lights and borrowing tools. Each year, the number of houses involved keeps growing, he said.
鈥淭his young couple moved in and said 鈥榦h, wow we live on Candy Cane Lane.鈥� So two weeks ago they went and bought lights.鈥�
The lights will be displayed Dec. 1 until Jan. 1 from 5 to 10 p.m.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like daylight out, because there are so many lights out there,鈥� said John.
Related: It鈥檚 Candy Cane Lane time again
Donations will be accepted through December for non-perishable food items and cash for local womens鈥� shelters, the John Howard Society, the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club and a Christmas campaign at the Laurel Packinghouse.
鈥淲e do it because it鈥檚 Christmas and there is a Santa Claus. Who says there鈥檚 not a Santa Claus?鈥� said John.
It鈥檚 to help out people who experienced hardships, said his wife Debi Sharhon.
鈥淲e鈥檙e lucky we have volunteers helping with everything which is really great.鈥�
The RCMP will also be increasing their patrols, as last year projectors were stolen from the lane. The community rallied behind them.
鈥淲e had like five or six projectors dropped off to replace them,鈥� said John.
A block party is also held each year to celebrate the lane, with hot chocolate and teddy bears for the residents on the street.
He recommended walking the street rather than driving.
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