Candy Cane Lane is back

Photo: Contributed - Damjan Madjar

The houses are decorated in lights with care in hopes that Kelownians will soon be there, as Candy Cane Lane opens for business.

The favourite annual tradition with locals is back for its fourth official year and like each year before, it is bigger and better than ever.

Candy Cane Lane organizer Damjan Madjar says more and more houses get on board each year and are even utilizing new technology such as laser Christmas lights to put on quite the show.

“It is branching out to the side streets now,” says Madjar. “It is pretty neat.”

With more than 40 houses participating and thousands of lights adorning the street, it’s a popular spot and it is all for a good cause.

In 2013, visitors of Candy Cane Lane helped Madjar donate 6,000 pounds of non-perishable food to local shelters. In 2014, 7,000 pounds of non-perishables were donated and this year they hope to collect even more.

“Every year it is growing substantially,” says Madjar with a laugh. “I almost need a moderator for the Facebook page now.”

While putting together the lane is a lot of work for Madjar, who also helps decorate the homes of his less able neighbours, he wouldn't change it for anything.

“It is giving back to the community,” says Madjar. “Since the first Candy Cane Lane it has made my Christmas each year. It is the whole aspect of giving and I only wish everyone could experience it on the level that a lot of us can.”

Madjar says one woman even messaged him on Facebook sharing that it was her daughter's favourite Christmas outing.

“Her daughter is already asking her mom 'Is Candy Cane Lane lit up?', 'Are the lights on Candy Cane Lane?', 'Is Santa going to be there?', because it was her fondest memory from last year,” says Madjar.

Visitors are asked to bring a non-perishable food donation when they visit Candy Cane Lane and leave it in the newly painted apple bin at the corner of Collison Road and Gramiak Road.

“Ms. Lane's Grade 1 class at Springvalley Elementary volunteered to paint the bin,” says Madjar. “That will become an annual tradition for Candy Cane Lane. Every year a new class will paint the bin.”

Santa will also be dropping by on weekend evenings to visit with kids and Shaw has also jumped on board once again providing more than 500 Shaw Bears for Santa to hand out to visiting kids.

All the lights go up in early December and run until Jan 1. Lights turn on at dusk and the public is always welcome, donations in hand, until about 10 p.m.

For more details on Candy Cane Lane check out the website here.