In September, when most people haven't even started putting up Halloween decorations, one Sundre-area resident is already busy putting together a Christmas display.
"I've been setting it up for years,î said Jackie Forbes.
About five years ago, she expanded the display to include a walk through. Visitors have a place to park and can then walk around to see the decorations and lights, which are on about one and a half acres west of Sundre just past the McDougal Chapel.
"You can't miss it, I'm right off the highway.î
She attributes her love of Christmas for inspiring her to set up the lights every year.
"And I love the lights. It's just gotten bigger and bigger.î
Seeing young children ó including her seven grandchildren ó joyfully run about as they check out the decorations, as well as having the local seniors van pull up for a visit, also fuels her desire to keep it up. A guestbook is available to any visitor who is interested in signing it, and Forbes said she enjoys reading the entries.
"We go out and fetch it and bring it in and read it every night.î
Many people leave behind beautiful comments, including a 91-year-old woman who signed the guestbook last year. One mother also wrote how her two-year-old son ran around for almost an hour just to check out the whole display.
"She said she couldn't keep up to him!î
Such feedback has "been really niceî and only further helps to motivate her.
"I just love doing it.î
As early as September, Forbes said she begins putting all the decorations up and just continues adding to the display over the following months, trying to make it "a little bit bigger and better every year.î
She does work full-time, so spends a couple of hours on weekday evenings as well as on weekends until everything is set up.
Having lived in the area her entire life, Forbes said she's always loved Sundre.
"I like the countryside, the people ó everything. I never wanted to move.î
While she tackles the bulk of the work involved in setting up the display, her husband of 15 years, Al, occasionally lends a hand, such as when the breakers blow.
"I'm not good with that stuff.î
Residents and visitors of all ages are welcome to check out the display, which on top of lights also features a couple hundred inflatable decorations, any time between about 5-10 p.m. The lights are not left on overnight to conserve energy, she said.
"(But) if there's still people out there (by 10 p.m.), we wait until they're gone.î
Although the display is free to visit, donations are accepted.
"There is a donation box ó the public asked us to put that out there,î she said, explaining that some people had in the past knocked on their door asking for a donation bin.
When asked whether there was anything she might want to add, Forbes said "I just want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas!î
