Residents of the Village began spreading holiday cheer this week as they took to the parks to hang Christmas lights and garlands on trees and lampposts around their NOTL neighbourhood.

The official lighting of the decorations will be on Sunday, Nov. 24, followed by a neighbourhood gathering.

“It’s one of these things where, like most neighbourhood things, it started out small. Then it began to grow as the neighbourhood grew,” said holiday decorating co-ordinator Dale Des Islets. Over time more people got interested and volunteered.

“It has almost become a bit of an institution. Everyone seems to love it. It’s become one of the highlights of the holiday season for everybody here,” he said.

Now, about 30 volunteers split into teams to install the lights and decorations around the neighbourhood.

The initiative is funded by the Village Community Association. Decorations are only installed in public areas – the four parks in the neighbourhood and the streets surrounding the parks, he said.

About 65 trees and 23 lampposts are adorned with lights and garland, with decorative reindeer and a sled set up around the parks.