On New YearB次元官网网址檚 Day, when Neil and Michelle Salmond turn off the power for their hugely popular Tuxedo Christmas lights display, it will be for the last time.
The famous light and decoration setup, with inflatables over 30 feet high, has been a Saanich institution for 28 years. It starts again on Friday (Dec. 8), and will run nightly from 5:30 to 11 p.m. through Jan. 1 at 4091 Tuxedo Dr.
Then itB次元官网网址檚 lights out.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be our last year, this has been a pretty big thing for us,B次元官网网址� said Neil Salmond. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had a few injuries, an MCL tear this year, and I canB次元官网网址檛 go up the ladder anymore.B次元官网网址�
The display features hundreds of props, a 1956 firetruck, a series of 25-foot inflatables, animatronic animals, and boasts many recognizable characters from Christmas and pop culture in general.
For fans who make the annual trek to Tuxedo, coming from as far as the Cowichan Valley, there is hope the display will continue. The Salmonds hope to move the collection on to a taker, and are open to offers.
ItB次元官网网址檚 hard to put a price on the collection, but Salmond said it doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter, itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a good deal.
The pack of reindeer flying across the SalmondsB次元官网网址� front yard came to them used, but cost $22,000 at one point. The bigger inflatables (about 25 feet tall) all cost well into the thousands, and thereB次元官网网址檚 several of them B次元官网网址� an elf, snowman, nutcracker, candle, etc.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 too much to figure out,B次元官网网址� Salmond said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not trying to get a ton of money for it. We would like to move it, we have so much we canB次元官网网址檛 even put it all up.B次元官网网址�
This week Western One rentals lent a 45-foot power lift to aid the Salmonds in their set up, as they do every year.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e very thankful to Western One, and to all the community,B次元官网网址� Salmond said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been fun, some people have been coming by so long, a third generation of children are coming now. WeB次元官网网址檝e been glad to do it for the community.B次元官网网址�
It started when the Salmond children were young. Neil has been involved in stage sets and had the rights to distribute giant inflatables for the South Island, which led him to acquire inflatable Christmas characters for the display. Salmond calls Michelle the creative source in all of it.
B次元官网网址淚 have a corny sense of humour, so does my wife, it will be sad for us,B次元官网网址� Salmond said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e energized [to do it once more] but sad at the same time, [years of] nice thoughts and people dropping cards and gifts off has been quite nice.B次元官网网址�
The collection fills both the SalmondsB次元官网网址� garage and part of his company warehouse.
Through the years thereB次元官网网址檚 been some ups and downs. Oak branches have fallen on the display, while big windstorms have also made a mess of it. ItB次元官网网址檚 hard to estimate but Salmond figures 15,000 to 25,000 people come by annually to see the display.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 actually count the visitors but itB次元官网网址檚 two weeks solid of tires rolling by,B次元官网网址� Salmond said.
B次元官网网址淚 feel so sad about the whole thing. Everyone says IB次元官网网址檝e been saying this for years, that it would be the last year and no one believed me, but this is the last year.B次元官网网址�
reporter@saanichnews.com
