Lance Taylor, Frosty the Snowman and Sam Hillier at the main entrance to the 2022 Park Meadows Light Display. (Photo Courtesy Kevin Kyle)

By Chris Brown

Open to the public daily starting Sunday

Lights at Park Meadows about bringing joy and love to the community, designer says

Nov 21, 2022 | 2:09 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – One of Medicine Hat’s favourite Christmas traditions returns Sunday when the lights at Park Meadows will be lit and open to the public – bigger brighter and better than before.

Lance Taylor took over the park display’s design this year, and he put to good use his 40 years of experience as an architectural designer. He says he looked at what the environment is asking for and then decides which displays will look best in each space.

“I wanted to make sure that when people went to every different place of the park they could see something interesting to bring joy, to bring love, to bring the community together,” he explains. “That was part of what I was trying to do and so I created lots of little vignettes for little kids or for adults.”

He says there are a number of new animals like moose, deer and llamas, other seasonal characters like snowmen, angels and elves, new lights and even a light-up river at the centre of the display.

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Taylor’s vision was brought to life by about $10,000 worth of new displays and features. Residents of Park Meadows chipped in and organizers got discounts from local businesses. He says it’s about a 50-50 split between old and new features.

The lights will be turned on Sunday and each day from 5-10 p.m. until early January.

Sam Hiller is looking after the overall planning and implementation of the display this year. He says he and about eight other volunteers began putting lights on the trees in September.

“We do it for Medicine Hat and all of the surrounding areas. A lot of people come here and we love it,” he says. “They love it the same way. You know the kids, and it’s Christmas they get into the Christmas spirit before Christmas actually do come and they come here a lot of people every night or once or twice a week at least.”

Entry is by donation and the money raised will be split between upgrades and upkeep of the annual light display and the Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub.