Phil Jensen with the amazing display he created in Kambah. Photo: Glynis Quinlan.
Canberra has turned up the power on spectacular suburban Christmas light displays with homes in Kambah in the South and Bonner in the North among the standouts this year.
Christmas light hunters looking for a fun experience for kids and adults alike should head to Bissenberger Crescent in Kambah and Elia Ware Crescent in Bonner to see two very different but highly entertaining shows.
But the entertainment doesn’t end there, with a feast of other Christmas light offerings dotted around Canberra and well worth hunting down.
They range from the more standard displays with a few novelty items to those with up to 50,000 sets of lights, massive inflatables, gift stalls or even a row of homes lit up.
Massive walk-through Kambah light display
Hayley Blake, 16, of Harrison enjoying the Christmas lights at Kambah. Photo: Glynis Quinlan.
Phil Jensen of Jensen Bricklayers is the man behind the massive walk-through light display at Bissenberger Crescent in Kambah which features around 50,000 lights and almost every child’s toy imaginable.
Phil has been putting together the light display every year since 1992 apart from a break last year because of a death in the family.
The light display raises money for the Cancer Support Group and attracts large numbers of sight-seers. It draws squeals of delight from young children who enjoy their favourite toys alongside the Christmas attractions.
“If you go in there the kids should find every toy that they like,” said Phil, who starts setting up the light display in October and works on it every weekend and after work until December comes around.
The TARDIS makes an appearance at the Kambah display. Photo: Glynis Quinlan.
The small cul-de-sac adjacent to Phil’s place has been aptly renamed ‘Christmas Street’ for the occasion and features several other Christmas light displays – making for a very entertaining visit!
A neighbouring Kambah display on Christmas Street. Photo: Glynis Quinlan.
Stormtroopers, Octonauts, Muppets and more at Bonner display
Stormtroopers dance to ‘Party Rock Anthem’ at Bonner. Photo: Glynis Quinlan.
If you’d like to see Santa dancing to ‘Santa style’ (‘Gangnam Style’), a ‘Wrecking Ball’ parody, Captain Picard of Star Trek saying ‘Make it So’, the Octonauts singing Jingle Bells, Stormtroopers dancing to ‘Party Rock Anthem’, The Muppets playing up and much more then head over to Elia Ware Crescent in Bonner for some very professional entertainment.
The amazing synchronised light, sound and vision display at the home uses video with original animation works created especially for the display, 50,000 flashing colourful lights and a fun 12-minute mix of modern Christmas carols (plus a few surprises) which can be heard by tuning in to 93.2 FM.
On top of this, there are smoke, snow and bubble machines, as well as a 4m pixel mega tree, leaping arches, beatpoles and spinners.
Miss Piggy making her presence felt at the Bonner display. Photo: Glynis Quinlan.
Canberra dad James Pettersen has put together the special Christmas display which is raising money for Legacy Australia Canberra and has its own Facebook site found here: https://www.facebook.com/EliaWareLights/
Gungahlin display raises awareness of paediatric brain cancer
Santa looks like he could be real at the Christmas light display in Gungahlin. Photo: Glynis Quinlan.
Visit the ‘Christmas Wonderland Lights Display’ at 17 Delma View, Gungahlin, soon after dark either this weekend or next weekend and you should find a Christmas gift stall, lucky dips, photo opportunities and a few surprises – as well as plenty of lights!
The display is held in memory of 15-year-old Dainere who passed away from paediatric brain cancer in June 2013 and is designed to build awareness of paediatric brain tumours and to raise crucial funds for research.
Tips for great Christmas light displays from the ‘female hunter’
A nativity scene at Woodhill Link. Photo: Jessica Burne.
Jessica Burne from Gilmore (previously Jerrabomberra) identifies as Canberra’s Christmas lights ‘female hunter’ and has come up with a range of places she recommends to see great displays in Jerrabomberra and Canberra’s South.
First off the mark is Woodhill Link in Jerrabomberra where she says practically the whole street is lit up and there is a big nativity scene. Other recommended Jerrabomberra light displays she found are in Bicentennial Drive and Cotter Place.
A Christmas light display in Bicentennial Drive. Photo: Jessica Burne.
In Gordon, Jessica recommends a large colourful Christmas light display at 22 Fingleton Crescent which is raising money for Cystic Fibrosis ACT and NSW.
Jessica also said that Bonython is a great place for Christmas lights and recommends 73 Kingscote Crescent and 17 Bottrill Street.
Jessica said that all of her recommended locations feature flashing lights and moving features and that most also have music, Santa Claus and reindeer.
The RiotACT can add to the Bonython list the extended Christmas display at 18 Kneebone Street, Bonython which features numerous lights, inflatables, Santa climbing down a chimney, snowmen and more.
Check out some other great Christmas light locations
Photo: Glynis Quinlan
There are hundreds more Christmas light displays around Canberra and below are some others which sound quite special:
22 Fingleton Crescent, Gordon has lights synced to music by DJ Drewsy – tune in to 87.9 FM and enjoy the effect of over 10,000 lights.
6 Lee-Steere Crescent Kambah features an interactive walk-through Christmas display with a large number of lights, Santas, toys, nativity scenes and much more. The owners spent three months putting it together.
8 Scurry Street, Dunlop has more than 25,000 lights covering the house and garden as well as a projector showing Santa-themed films. There are also 11 reindeer in the garden and 13 inflatable Santas.
Huddy Street, Forde has six homes lit up on the street while not far away there are three houses lit up in a row from 2-6 Helen Leonard Crescent, Forde with features including Christmas trees, Santa and reindeer, angels, stars and a massive snowman.
16 Tipping Place, McKellar has been staging Christmas light displays for several years but this year’s display is meant to be the best. Santa’s mail room and puppets are shown in one of the windows, with elves, reindeer and fairy lights adding to the fun.
26 Osmand Street, Wanniassa has no less than eight inflatable Santas, an outdoor screen showing mini-movies, plenty of pretty flashing lights and explosions of colour.
Cotton Place, Downer features a large array of Christmas lights and a roof display. Money is being raised for suicide prevention and mental health awareness.
To find the locations of more Christmas light displays go to Christmas Light Search or Canberra Christmas Light Locations.
Do you have any suggestions for ‘must see’ Christmas light displays that we’ve missed? Let us know about them in the comments below.
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