Not even the Grinch can steal Christmas from Audrey and William MacLaurin, along with their six grandchildren, that come together each year to build and paint a festive plywood scene for their front yard. The bright display is a big hit with local families, who slow down their cars or stop to snap photos. - Desiree Anstey
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It started five years ago with Santa Claus, his reindeer and sleigh, and snowballed into familiar festive scenes complete with music, movement, and lights.
Gavin Costain and his cousin Ellie Lynch stand by their favourite holiday display, a helicopter with a propeller that spins. - Desiree Anstey
Audrey MacLaurin and her husband, William, say there is no greater joy than seeing the eyes of their six grandchildren twinkle when adding a new decoration to their yard at 12427 Enmore Road, Route 11 in P.E.I.
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There is no price when it comes to celebrating the joy of Christmas with family, as Gavin Costain knows all too well as he hides behind a themed display of a General Store in his grandparents' front yard. - Desiree Anstey
“Every year, William and I follow a different festive pattern ordered from online and then gather our grandchildren to help paint it. But William has been in woodworking since he was a child, watching his father, and we have a little shop where we make all our displays,” said Audrey while acknowledging the rotating Ferris wheel is her favourite.
Move over Clark Griswold, William and Audrey MacLaurin are in town. What started as a hobby with crafting a large plywood Santa, sleigh, and reindeer, soon snowballed for the couple and their family into other festive scenes with moving pieces, Christmas music, and colourful lights. - Desiree Anstey
William added, "There are a lot of cars that slow down and stop to admire the display in the evenings, but what I like most is seeing the kids happy, and that is the motivation behind our family hobby."
Despite a global pandemic things are a little brighter in P.E.I. along Route 11, thanks to a family that gets together each year to string Christmas lights, build and paint familiar characters and festive scenes to bring much-needed cheer in a dark time to their neighbourhood. - Desiree Anstey
Every year, the MacLaurins aim to have their display fully set up for Dec. 1 (Audrey's father's birthday), which means they start setting up in early November. Setting up such a large display takes an army, and the MacLaurins are thankful for the help of their three children, their spouses, and six grandchildren. - Desiree Anstey
Ellie Lynch and her cousin Gavin Costain play a game of Tag around a life-size moving merry-go-round. - Desiree Anstey
Gavin Costain, from the left, Casey Lynch, Tucker Costain, Morgan Lynch, and Ellie Lynch enjoy helping their grandparents paint new additions each year to their outdoor display. - Desiree Anstey
