As the volunteers apologized for the delays, visitors to the Christmas in Williams Park kept saying they didn’t mind.
“It’s worth the wait,” more than one commented while the Langley Advance Times was on the scene Saturday, Dec. 2.
It’s estimated more than 1,000 vehicles visited the annual drive-through display during the four hours it was open that day, some waiting as long as 40 minutes while vehicles backed up along the road leading to the park.
It was roughly double the number who attended opening day, Friday, Dec. 1, and afterwards, Barb Sharp, president of the non-profit Christmas in Williams Park Society was preparing to bring in traffic control to make sure park neighbours could bypass the lineups.
Sharp said the combination of good weather on a weekend day, and news that this year’s event will end earlier than usual, probably contributed to the surge in traffic.
“It was quite a busy night and that’s a good thing,” Sharp said, “[but] the biggest issue is when neighbors want to get home.”
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Volunteers prep Christmas in Williams Park
Sharp said to prevent the lineup from obstructing neighbours, the plan is to have have two traffic control people on busy weekend nights.
“Something’s going to happen for the next weekend, so that we try to prevent that,” Sharp promised.
Hiring traffic control people will mean less for new decorations, she warned.
Sharp said she didn’t hear any complaints from visitors about the wait while she was there.
“Not one single person complained at the shed area [where donations are collected before vehicles leave the park]. I mean there’s so many places with lineups these days, I don’t think people think about it too much anymore.”
Sharp revealed some new light displays were expected to go up on Tuesday, Dec. 5, “that couldn’t get here quite fast enough because of the fact they’re coming from California. They’ll be very beautiful. We’re going to try to put them on the entrance way drive.
READ ALSO: Organizers of this year’s Christmas in Williams Park plan for next year
Christmas in Williams Park runs from 5 to 9 p.m. at 68th Avenue and 238th Street. Admission is free, and donations will go towards more lights, and replacing existing lights.
Gates at Williams park will be closed at 4 p.m. every night until the event is over, to give volunteers time to set up. Lights are on timers, and turn off at 9 p.m.
If people come during the week they will have a better chance of “little to no wait,” the society Facebook page advises.
The light exhibit will end earlier than usual, on Sunday, Dec. 17.
Prospective volunteers for the evenings are asked to email Kathy McMahon at KMcmahon@myyahoo.com to get an available time slot.