Fake snow, lights of all colours, blow up Christmas characters, Santa’s sleigh and even elves feature in the display made by Tracey and Alex Pasco and their family.
And to show their appreciation of the effort they have put in, voters in the annual Deni Lights Up Christmas Lights Competition have selected them as the People’s Choice winner.
The Pasco family’s collection of Christmas decorations has been growing over several decades.
Tracey and Alex Pasco said it started when their now adult children were small, and their love of Christmas — and decorating — has only increased since then.
Moving to a new home in north Deniliquin —268 River St — only allowed them to extend the joy further because of their huge front yard.
The effort they put in is simply about putting smiles on faces — their own and other members of the community — but being selected People’s Choice winner in the Deni Lights Up Christmas Lights Competition this year was a bonus. They received 300 votes to take out the $400 Do It In Deni gift card.
‘‘We just love Christmas, and we love going out and looking at the decorated homes ourselves — and there are some great ones this year,’’ Mrs Pasco said.
‘‘We’ve been preparing for a few months, but it only took a couple of days to put up because everything was labelled.
‘‘We had a couple of new items this year, including the snow machine. It was so popular, Alex has to refill it every half hour.’’
This is the first time the Pascos have won the People’s Choice in the annual competition, but they did placed second in the residental category selected by the judges last year.
Winner of the residential category this year was Vanessa and Paul Grant at 114 McCrabb Rd, and second was Margaret and Luke Marshall at 318 Wood St. They receive a $400 and $100 Deni Gift Card, respectively.
The best decorated business receives a $1000 media package split between ACE Radio and the DENILIQUIN PASTORAL TIMES.
The business winner for 2021 was Body Harmony, owned by Angelina Huddle.
The competition is coordinated by the Deniliquin Business Chamber in partnership with Ray White Real Estate Deniliquin, the PASTORAL TIMES and ACE Radio – 2QN/EdgeFM.
‘‘It’s been a fabulous competition, every display was great,’’ Chamber president and competition co-sponsor Paula Rutter said.
‘‘Ten years ago houses would just have a few fairy lights up, and since then it’s become a massive effort.’’
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