Christmas lights will be getting unpacked shortly as residents and business owners get ready to light up Horowhenua in the Harvey Bowler Festival of Lights.
Last year Liz and Michael Hill, Harvey Bowler Funeral Directors, supported by Shaun Tyson from BNZ decided it was important to resurrect the Christmas trail and give young and old alike something to light up their eyes.
"We wanted to do it. We felt something was missing at Christmas and we were lucky our staff and sponsors felt the same. We used to love taking our own children round the light trails. It was fantastic to see carload after carload driving round with so many families out last year," said Mrs Hill.
Mr Hill said it takes the commercial side out of Christmas.
"It's fun for everyone from infants to rest home residents. It's the community spirit in the event that really counts," he said.
For those dressing up their homes and business windows there are prizes to be won again this year.
First prize for the best lit-up home is $1000 worth of electricity and $500 cash, second prize is a $200 Mitre10 voucher and $200 cash and third prize a $200 Hammer Hardware voucher and a $50 food hamper.
The People's Choice winner receives a $200 food hamper and $100 hamper for the runnerup, and a new category this year - the most original and innovative design can win a $200 hamper of goods. The best-dressed business window wins $300 for a staff night out.
Last year 23 homes and 12 businesses took part and Mrs Hill is hoping that another new prize, a light valued at $250 for first-time entrants will encourage more homeowners to try their hand at creative lighting.
Houses and business windows need to be ready for viewing from December 5 to December 24, between 8.30pm and 11pm.
The company also jumped at the chance to resurrect The Avenue of Trees last year, in conjunction with Levin Salvation Army, giving local businesses a chance to decorate supplied Christmas trees and win Best Tree. Public entry to the Avenue at the Levin Salvation Army in Durham St is by a can of food for the Food Bank.
Last year 65 businesses took part and more than 1900 people strolled the Avenue. Trees will be on display on December 16 and 17, 6pm - 8.30pm, and December 18, 5.30pm - 8pm, followed by Carols in the Car Park. Harvey Bowler Festival of Lights sponsors also include BNZ Levin, Electra Energy, Mitre10 Levin, Ken Mason Auto Electricals, Levin New World, Horowhenua Chronicle, Flexilight, Hammer Hardware Foxton and MoreFM.