‘The end of an era:’ Clinkskill Christmas light display flips switch for final time

This weekend featured the final flip of the switch for one of Saskatoon’s most iconic holiday neighbourhood light shows.

Located on Clinkskill Drive, the elaborate display featured 85,000 Christmas lights and was a family tradition for many over the past 15 years.

Scott Lambie, the man behind the intricate light show, is ready to get down from the roof of his house and put away the ladder.

“The lights went off and I said, ‘OK, that’s it. It’s done,’ ” Lambie said.

He added it was sad to see the tradition come to an end, but it’s time for him to move on.

“I’m getting too old to do it,” he said.

One aspect Lambie said he will miss is interacting with those who came from all over the province to see the show. He and his wife Shelly also gave out candy canes to visitors; on Christmas Eve alone, they handed out more than 300.

Lambie can’t sit back just yet; because of the snow, it will take a while to dig up all the lights and decorations.

What will happen to the snowmen, nutcrackers, 1,200 strings of lights and 400 extension cords? He said he already has received many requests to buy pieces of the display through Facebook.

“I’ll be busy for the next couple of months,” he said.

Lambie’s confident most of the lights will be sold, adding he’s selling pieces at 25 per cent of their retail value. The pieces that he doesn’t sell by fall will be donated.

“I’d rather have it go to someone than just sit in the garage,” he said.

Many of Lambie’s pieces will be seen at Sunnyside Nursing Home in Saskatoon, where Lambie said they’ll be set up in the courtyard for residents.

And how much is an electrical bill with that many lights? Lambie said because not every single light is shining at one time, he doesn’t even notice a change in his power bill.

His community service has not gone unnoticed. Matt Love, the MLA from Saskatoon Eastview, mentioned the light display in the Legislative Assembly on Nov. 28.

“We’re full of gratitude for all of Scott’s time, energy, creativity and investment into brightening up the holiday season,” Love said.

Lambie said he and Shelly were nominated by Love for a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for his community service.

“It’s really neat he did that,” Lambie said.

Lambie never would have thought the Clinkskill Christmas light display would be where it is today when, just for fun, he put it up 15 years ago with just 25,000 lights. He’s thankful for the abundance of support received throughout the years.

“It’s amazing what people felt,” he said, adding he’s even had people offer to help him set it up next year to keep the tradition alive.

On Sunday, the final day, the Lambie house was visited by people who wanted to watch the twinkling display one last time. Lambie said he also received cards that showed appreciation for his work over the years.

The house might not be tangled up completely in lights next year, but Lambie said he will decorate the eaves and windows with some lights.

“It’s been great, and I guess it’s the end of an era,” Lambie said.