When Santa Claus comes to town, at least one Guelph neighbourhood will be ready to clear him for landing.
About 400 candles will be lit alongside the road on Waverley Drive, in what has now become a Christmas Eve tradition.
It’s the third year for Santa’s Runway, the brainchild of the Morris family, who moved to Guelph five years ago.
“My husband grew up in Carlisle, and it’s something that a neighbourhood in Carlisle has been doing for 30 years now,” Cydney Morris said.
The candles are in bags to create a luminary effect. The bags are filled with sand, so candles can just burn into the sand safely.
Neighbours are encouraged to walk the street when they’re lit, starting at 6 p.m.
“We try to get everyone out and involved,” Morris said. “Usually from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. is the bulk of everyone out walking the street.”
Roughly 40 homes are taking part. Some neighbours, she added, will put out a speakerphone to play Christmas carols.
Others will set up hot chocolate and cider stations for those walking by.
“On the 22nd of December, we do a community build of the bags,” Morris said. “Everyone comes to our garage and help build out materials.”
It is weather dependent. The plan is to have the event on New Year’s Eve instead, if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
The candles will be lit down the stretch between Stevenson and Riverside.
The hope is to have the event stretch to neighbouring streets in future years.