By Jacob Fehr
THE Christmas season is set to shine in Jarvis and area during December as the community prepares for Jarvis Light-Up: Ultimate Edition.
Organized by local volunteers Lisa and Howie Nigh, Ernie and Cathy Bigelow, Len and Debbie Bigelow, and Nick Peaire, Jarvis Light-Up is a community-wide holiday celebration involving a variety of free activities. 2024 is the event’s fourth year.
A prominent part of Jarvis Light-Up is the Tour of Homes, which invites residents around Townsend and Jarvis to decorate their houses for others to enjoy. Organizers divide the registered homes into eight zones and map out a tour route showcasing all the dazzling displays to help the public take in the sparkling spectacle.
This year’s Tour of Homes is on from December 9–January 1. Those interested in the tour can find the map of registered homes and relevant streets at jarvislightup.ca.
Ernie Bigelow, also known as Elf Ernie, said they had over 550 homes registered for the tour last week. Participating homeowners are eligible for first-, second-, and third-place prizes for the best-decorated home in their zone. Past and present winners from each zone will compete against each other to determine who will receive the “Ultimate Champion prestige” and a $2,500 prize. Other prizes are also available.
“Some of the prizes that stick out to me are a barbecue, winter tires, freezer full of steaks, [and] about $10,000 in gift cards,” he said. “We have about $40,000 in giveaways.”
Moreover, many local businesses participate in the fun by putting up large decorations. Elf Ernie said several are already up this year.
“There are huge displays around town. Every year we add onto the displays… That’s done by the local businesses,” he said. The organizers are grateful for the support.
“Our businesses in our community and beyond now are overwhelmingly generous. And the thing about our event that stands out from other events is when you come… [it’s] all free for everybody thanks to our sponsors. You don’t have to bring your wallet.”
Another major part of Jarvis Light-Up is Jarvis Rumble 3.0, a Christmas carnival chock-full of festive activities for families from 2–9 p.m. on December 14 at Jarvis Lions Park. Attendees can expect midway rides, food and beverages, live performances by illusionist Lucas Wilson and Dragon Breath Entertainment, a chance to see the Grinch, giveaways, and more. The event will climax at 7:30 p.m. with what organizers called “the biggest, best, hugest fireworks display ever presented in Haldimand or Norfolk.”
“The whole day is fun-filled stuff and it’s entirely free,” Elf Ernie said.
As they have previously, organizers are collecting donations for local causes at Jarvis Rumble 3.0. “This year we’re doing it for Jarvis Lions Club and the food bank,” he said.
Donors of non-perishable food items can enter a draw at Doughty & Williamson’s booth for a chance to win a Kubota Z252KH 54” zero-turn mower valued at around $10,000.
“We’re hoping people bring lots of food in,” he said.
Organizers expect a crowd of approximately 5,000 people at Jarvis Rumble 3.0. Last year the festival attracted over 4,000 people. As of 2021, Jarvis’s population was 1,214.
“The weather’s looking great,” he said. “Fingers crossed!”
Other activities part of Jarvis Light-Up this year include the kids’ scavenger hunt for Jarvis the Elf, Michaud’s Light-Up Lane event held on December 7, and Jolly Trolley rides that explore the event’s tour route. All tickets for trolley rides were claimed quickly.
Elf Ernie said Jarvis Light-Up is only possible thanks to all its local supporters, including the sponsors who help finance the fun and residents who decorate.
“The community is next level. Without the community, we’d have nothing. They’re so great,” he said. “The light up is about community coming together, and when community comes together, we can do amazing things, like help out the food bank and the Lions.”
“It’s a lot of work but we’re really excited about it, and we have a good group of people willing to invest time and money into it. So, it’s all good, good things are happening.”
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Originally published December 11, 2024
