For most of us, Christmas comes just once a year, but it’s a different story for Bruce Watson, arts and entertainment director for the Butchart Gardens.
Watson and his creative team feel the Christmas spirit year-round, pooling their talents when time and conditions permit to lay the groundwork for the Magic of Christmas.
If you’ve experienced the Yuletide wonder these horticultural magicians spin to create this ever-changing twinkling wonderland, you’ll already know how much their labour and creativity pays off year after year.
Despite a downpour that preceded the annual Christmas light-up marking the start of yet another holiday season on Dec. 1, this was evident once more judging by reaction from a throng of soggy spectators.
Once Nolan and Hannah, two youngsters from the Cridge Centre, helped pull the switch on cue that turned Butchart Gardens into a rainbow-coloured Christmas spectacle at 5 p.m., the crowd erupted with cheers and applause.
“The hard work for us is to just get the show up and running, putting it together, and this is the reward,” said Watson, whose new effects were instantly apparent as new Christmas trees lit up on the concert lawn.
Other upgrades include a new interactive lighting display on the Rose Garden lawn, new LED colour-changing lighting fixtures for the Dragon Fountain, musical additions and a special bright red-and-white display honouring Canada’s 150th anniversary.
Then there are what Watson terms the “unseen” maintenance upgrades, including repairs to birds featured in the 12 Days of Christmas display, replacement of worn-out vine balls, and new costumes for 11 Pipers Piping.
While some costumes were salvageable, many were so adversely affected by West Coast winter conditions over the past decade they had to be replaced by fascimiles created from new fabric procured by the costumer.
“It takes two months to put the Chrismas display all in, but this is something we work on throughout the year among our other jobs working on fireworks, entertainment and lighting,” said Watson, who began the full-blown installation Oct. 1.
“Christmas is a full-time thing for us in a way. We kind of live it 24/7.”
On light-up night, the pathway leading to the big red switch in front of the Rose Carousel was a sea of spectators, most clutching complimentary see-through umbrellas while they inched forward with gleeful anticipation.
“Thank God for the umbrellas,” laughed Brian Whitaker, who drove from Qualicum Beach with his wife Angela to join his Parksville-based daughter Tania Pastl and great-grandson Brendon Pastl, 7, at the event.
“This is really nice, just so pretty,” said Tania, whose grandson seemed most excited about riding the Rose Carousel.
Once the rain subsided, the Christmas spirit seemed more pronounced as visitors wandered the gardens sipping hot chocolate, or lacing up for some ice skating on the outdoor rink while carollers sang nearby.
Maru Harper echoed a recurring overheard observation from passersby about the Christmas display — that it never really gets old.
“It’s all about Christmas, and what better place than the Butchart Gardens,” said Harper, viewing the seasonal sensation this year from a fresh perspective, through the eyes of her granddaughter Mariella.
“She is the most beautiful little girl on the carousel,” gushed grandma while Mariella went round and round with her parents.
“She’s turning two, and last year she was too much of a baby to be really aware of what was going on.”
Harper admits she almost bowed out of attending the Christmas Light-Up because of the heavy rain, “but they were so eager to come” and she said she was glad she changed her mind.
Undaunted by the rainfall, Mount Doug student Judy Lee, 17, came because “we just really wanted to see the lights,” she said.
The same went for her schoolmate Jasper Hamilton, 17, who is no stranger to a little water.
“I work for Prince of Whales whale-watching,” said Hamilton, who received a voucher from his employer.
The Magic of Christmas continues daily until Jan. 6.
