For one family, a leisurely drive through a Christmas light display at Winkler Bible Camp this December became much more.
“One of [their parents] doesn't always remember everything anymore. She was trying to focus on the scenes, but she wasn't really engaged, and then they got to the end, where there was the reminder of the Christmas story. She read every scroll out loud with enthusiasm, they said, and she was just reminded of Christmas and why we really celebrate Christmas. For me, that was a very touching moment.”
This is one of Candace Wiebe’s favourite stories from Winkler Bible Camp’s fifth edition of its Christmas Glow in the Country. This year, it's likely that stories like this one are plenty — a grand total of 10,000 people came out to see and experience the festive views.
A special occasion
Candace and her husband Dale are the executive directors of Winkler Bible Camp. They are also responsible for the planning and execution of the 2-kilometre stretch of holiday lights.
Along with creating cherished memories, Christmas Glow in the Country also warmed attendees with cider, a warm meal, and community through December.
“I love it every year. I love to see people excited. [I love] hearing that people return. [On] the last night, we had someone who said they'd been through four times,” says Candace. “It's cool to see that it's something meaningful and just lightens their spirits a little bit.”
A team effort
According to Dale, Candace has a lot to do with the pleasing aesthetics of Christmas Glow in the Country.
“I hear a lot of people go, ‘Wow,’” he says. “They thank me all the time and then I have to remind them that I didn’t do this. I'm not a planner or designer, so if it looks pretty, it's because my wife designed it. I'm the doer guy, not the make-it-look-nice guy.”
Dale says that the staff at the camp are also an important part of preparing the display. He says the 170 summer camp staff and 30 full-time off-season staff work on it year-round.
“All throughout the year we fix and repair and get things ready and design, think, and plan,” he says. “Whenever [Candace] has a free person, they're fixing something or doing something.”
In October and November, the staff get to work assembling and putting up the intricate displays in accordance with the group’s visions and dreams for them. The number keeps increasing — last year, there were 80 or 90 scenes, and this year, 120.
“The [staff] enjoy it. They really, really like it, and they have a tonne of fun,” says Dale. “This whole weekend we had 1500 people almost every night and the staff just enjoyed the interactions and all the smiles and the kids and the . . . hot cider. It’s just awesome.”
Candace adds that it takes five to six weeks to put up the display and taking it down for the year happens within the span of four days. The pair notes that even during clean-up, the staff’s enthusiasm doesn’t waver.
In the end, for 10,000 people from inside the Pembina Valley and beyond it, this December, their night was a little bit brighter thanks to the efforts of Winkler Bible Camp.
In the coming months, the camp will have other winter events to warm the spirit and build community. Keep an eye on its website for more information in the near future.
With files from Ty Hildebrand