The Klassen family lights display at the corner of 98th and 14th Street in North Battleford. (Submitted Photo/BattlefordsNOW Staff)

By Austin Mattes

Dazzling Lights

Family tradition; Klassen connects the community through Christmas

Dec 25, 2024 | 1:00 PM

Christmas is the one time of year that seems to bring people together in the most magical of ways, from exchanging a simple “Merry Christmas” and singing Christmas carols to helping someone get their car unstuck or donating to the local food bank, there are so ways the community can connect during this jolly season.

But there has been one house in North Battleford that has gone above and beyond, bringing adults, kids, families and community members together through one common familiarity all while continuing the family tradition — Christmas lights.

It all started years ago as a small Christmas project for Hans Klassen’s family house on the corner of 98th and 14th street, but over time, it turned into a dazzling and festive lights display to honour his mother and father.

“My mother, when she was around, she really enjoyed the lights and it was her one expense every year that she didn’t mind doing and this is our first year without her so we did a little extra this year for her. It was also my dad too, he passed when I was a kid, but he also got an award for a lights display he did on the house when we used to live on Sask Hospital Grounds.” Klassen said.

The display has now become a huge attraction within the community, bringing people from all around town to come and enjoy the merry masterpiece. And just like his father won the contest over 50 years ago, Klassen’s display was also crowned the winner of CJNB’s 2024 Twinkle Tour Contest.

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The Klassen lights display was the winner of the 2024 CJNB Twinkle Tour. (Submitted Photo/BattlefordsNOW Staff)

“We probably at least get a good couple hundred people who come a look, we enjoy it very much and we see people all the time coming by. The last couple of years we’ve even handed out candy canes and little teddy bears to the kids and stuff that like that,” Klassen said.

“We decided at the last minute to join in the Twinkle Tour…After we entered, I just spent a week outside doing the different things that I needed to do and setting up different stuff and playing in the cold…it’s quite fun sometimes.” Klassen added.

Even though Klassen is very passionate about the display and loves doing it every year, he definitely doesn’t do it alone as it takes a lot of time to set up.

“We decorate inside and out every year. So even when people come into the house they are quite surprised, and my sister Crystal helps me out. Outdoors is my job and indoors is her job. It takes about 30 hours total and a few hours a day. If I need help, I do have a buddy that I get to come help me out too.”

The back side of the Klassen lights display. (Submitted Photo/BattlefordsNOW Staff)

In terms of cost, Klassen said there are some expenses but there is a method to it.

“The blow ups are a big cost. Lights aren’t so much anymore, you can get LEDs way easier because a set of lights is about $15 and we have about 100 of them. Over the years I’ve collected trees and stuff like that for outside and the reefs and all that. But most of the time we’ll go out after Christmas when everything is 50 per cent off or 75 per cent off and get stock for the next year, that’s usually the best way to do it.”

Despite the cost and days of work involved, Klassen said that he plans to continue doing it for as long as he can as it’s his token of giving back and bringing the community together.

“I enjoy it and until I fall off a roof or something, I’ll probably do it till then; there’s no reason not to. With the Christmas season, a lot of people just enjoy the bright lights and the decorations so it’s great that it brings that joy of Christmas to people.”

You can find the amazing display at the corner of 98th and 14th street in North Battleford and the lights usually stay on until 10 p.m. each night. Klassen said the display will most likely stay up until the middle of January or February based on the weather.

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austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes