Bill and Deb Colibaba stand in front of their new train display.
By Brenda Moser
Living in Norfolk County, many of us have made the drive to Simcoe to enjoy their Panorama of Lights.
It’s a great attraction for all ages and draws thousands of visitors of every age each year. Here, locally, you could say we have our own ‘mini’ panorama of lights just five minutes outside of Waterford.
Bill and Deb have lived in their house since 1989… it’s the first house they bought and raised their four children there. Since the early 1990s, Bill and Debbie Colibaba have put countless hours of work into creating and building their own Christmas light display… right in their own front yard. Located on Conc. 6, just north of town, it is quite the sight to see. Debbie admits, “I have always been Christmas crazed. I suggest something and Bill comes up with it.”
With a background in machining and fabricating and a shop right out his back door, Bill sets out to create her latest brain child.
Some of the larger pieces that Bill has crafted are a Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, and this year, a train.
“I always wanted a train,” said Deb, and sure enough, a train she got.
It took about 90 hours to build in his shop.
“I started with the wheels… they’re made from hydraulic spools or rolls, and I went from there,” says Bill.
The Colibabas start building their own panorama the 1st of November.
“I start in the garage checking lights and putting things together and that takes about two weeks,” said Bill. “It’s like a party in the garage. It takes another two weeks to set everything up, so about four weeks in total start to finish, and only takes two days to tear down. We place the big units first then go from there… We change it year to year.”
They use pins on everything tall to tie it down and haven’t lost anything yet.
“We’ve never counted how many pieces there are and some have been donated,” adds Bill.
Debbie is in charge of stringing all of the lights - at least 120’ on the verandah, another 100’ on the gables and eaves, and about 100’ in the bushes… but hey, who counts?
A lot of the displays are powered by batteries, like the merry-go-round and Ferris wheel.
“They each use three AA batteries and we change them just once in a season. The hydro bill isn’t too bad as all of the lights are LED.
“We don’t look for donations… we do it because we like it. We had a group of Ukrainians from a local church sing to us and the recycling lady has left a Christman card thanking us. We’re known as the Christmas House and the neighbors have never complained. Traffic can be a bit crazy at times with vehicles slowing down or pulling over to stop and take pics, but people have been understanding.”
Visitors are welcome to stroll around the perimeter of the yard but not to go past the lights. Sometimes they go out and chat with visitors to see where people have come from. Their fantastic light show is worth the drive to view it.
If you were wondering, the interior of their home continues the Christmas spirit as well. Deb has created an interesting and intricate Victorian village that fills the dining room with collector pieces, carefully placed on tables so it seems like you are walking the streets of her tiny town. Truly beautiful! As for a tree, they have not one but two in the home. I wouldn’t expect anything less.
The Colibabas love Christmas and are passionate about their cavalcade of lights.
“We turn the lights on about 5 p.m. and like to shut them down by 10 p.m. There’s not much activity after 9:30. We do leave them on a little longer on weekends.”
Be sure to make the drive to Conc. 6, Townsend, just north of Waterford, a stone’s throw off ‘old’ Highway 24… it’s definitely worth the drive!
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