Residents vow to decorate their homes despite official Lobethal Lights cancellation

The Lobethal Lights are officially off this year but that is not going to stop the Christmas tradition for committed locals determined to brighten the end of a dark year.

Peg and Bill Chartres have been decorating their house in Christmas Lane for 30 years and plan to keep the tradition alive in 2020. Picture: Emma Brasier

• Lobethal Lights event cancelled due to coronavirus
• Adelaide Carols by Candelight 2020 also cancelled

Christmas lights won’t go out in Lobethal this year if residents – including Bill and Peg Chartres – get their way, even as the official event becomes another victim of the pandemic.

The couple, who live on aptly named Christmas Lane, began decorating their house with Christmas lights yesterday.

“We always start on the October long weekend,” Mrs Chartres said.

“Everybody I’ve spoken to has said, ‘Yes we’re putting up lights’.”

Last summer’s bushfires and then COVID have hit the Hills town hard, giving the lights even more significance this year.

“If we didn’t do the lights, I think that would be an extra bit of depression for everyone,” Mrs Chartres said.

Bill and Peg have built an impressive collection over the decades. Picture: Dean Martin

The Official Lights of Lobethal on Thursday announced on Facebook that the event would be cancelled because of the pandemic, saying it was too challenging to control crowds and adhere to social-distancing regulations.

A later post encouraged residents and businesses to still display lights.

Marianne Foristal, the vice-chairwoman of the Lobethal Lights Committee, said only the pageant, market stalls and nativity were cancelled.

“We can’t stop people putting lights on their houses, we have no control over that,” she said.

“We don’t want to to dull the Christmas spirit, we certainly want people to put their lights up.”

The Lights of Lobethal committee have currently been working hard and obtaining advise from many different sources in...

Posted by Official Lights of Lobethal on Wednesday, 30 September 2020

Mrs Chartres said she and her husband would monitor restrictions closer to Christmas, and adhere to number limits entering their property if necessary.

Kevin Kleemann, another resident and member of the Lobethal Lights Committee, said he would continue the tradition and decorate his house.

He also encouraged people to take the drive to Lobethal, especially for the children.

“People are still welcome to come to the town, drive through and see the lights, and maybe stop at a shop,” he said.

Originally published as Residents vow to decorate their homes despite official Lobethal Lights cancellation