7 incredible Christmas light shows to see on P.E.I.

From musical masterpieces to sparkling estates, here are some places to visit
Cody MacKay · CBC News · Posted: Dec 19, 2019 5:00 PM AT | Last Updated: December 20, 2019

James Gallant’s display is always a must-see during the holidays. (Submitted by Michele Lawlor)

If you enjoy visiting Christmas light displays and seeing houses dance and pop to the tunes of the holidays, Prince Edward Island is paradise.

There are many light displays across the Island, from the tiny to the extravagant. For this list we’ve compiled some musical displays and some of the larger lawn light-ups scattered throughout the province.

Happy trails.

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Wearable Christmas trees: A very different fashion show


Christmas trees take to the catwalk in Charlottetown
Sara Fraser · CBC News · Posted: Nov 26, 2016 9:00 AM AT | Last Updated: November 26, 2016

These wearable Christmas tree dresses will be on the runway at a fundraising gala Saturday night at the Delta in Charlottetown. (Sara Fraser/CBC)
Some very different holiday fashion that can make a difference will be on the runway Saturday night in Charlottetown at a holiday fundraiser — wearable Christmas trees.

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Teens’ original Christmas song hits high note for P.E.I. charity


‘We hope they feel the excitement and joy of Christmas’

Sarah Keaveny Vos · CBC News · Posted: Dec 03, 2018 5:00 PM AT | Last Updated: December 4, 2018

‘We just fiddled around with our ukuleles, played the chords that we knew and just kind of went with the flow,’ says Ally MacLeod, left, with friend Liah Clayton. (Jane Robertson/CBC)


Two Island teens have written and produced a new holiday song they hope will make this Christmas a little brighter for Islanders in need — the girls are donating all of the money from online sales of Hurry Santa to the P.E.I. charity Santa’s Angels.

Liah Clayton and Ally MacLeod, both 15, released the song less than a week ago and it’s already made almost $500.

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Santa gives reindeer a break, pays visit to P.E.I. hospital in a helicopter


Santa’s Angels partnered with the Canadian Coast Guard to pull off the surprise visit
Hadeel Ibrahim · CBC News · Posted: Dec 25, 2019 4:36 PM AT | Last Updated: December 26, 2019

Santa prepares to board a coast guard helicopter to deliver presents to children at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown.


Santa Claus traded in his sleigh for a helicopter and visited the children’s ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown on Wednesday morning.

The flight was organized by Santa’s Angels, a P.E.I. non-profit group that organizes Santa visits to more than 300 homes every Christmas, as well as the hospital. They bring food, utility baskets of cleaning supplies, and toys for the children.

Santa’s Angels partnered with the Canadian Coast Guard to borrow their helicoper and fly Santa to the hospital’s rooftop helipad.

Herb MacLaine, a spokesperson for Santa’s Angels, said Santa visited everyone at the hospital’s cafeteria, as well as the kids who couldn’t be home for Christmas. He said the children’s reactions were his favourite part of the experience.

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6 Islanders honoured by GG with Meritorious Service Decoration

CBC News · Posted: Feb 25, 2021 11:13 AM AT | Last Updated: February 26

‘When I got the email I thought it was a spam or something.’ Carolyn Bateman says. (CBC)
Six Prince Edward Islanders are being honoured by the Governor General’s office for their service to others, with their names appearing Thursday on a list of 98 recipients of the Meritorious Service Decoration.

They are:

Stephen Allen, Don Wright and Ken Zakem “for creating Santa’s Angels, an organization that distributes care packages, food hampers and toys to hundreds of homes on Christmas morning.”

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COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What’s happening Christmas Eve


3 new travel-related cases have been confirmed on P.E.I., and Santa’s approved for entry
CBC News · Posted: Dec 24, 2020 7:05 AM AT | Last Updated: December 24, 2020

Santa Claus comes to town tonight, after answering a COVID-19 screening questionnaire and receiving his final approval for travel to the Island. (Submitted by Donna Lewis)
The Island has three new cases of COVID-19, all related to travel outside the Atlantic region and all in people who have been self-isolating, says the province’s Chief Public Health Office. Passengers on three Air Canada flights are being advised to monitor themselves for symptoms and report for a test if any appear.

Premier Dennis King made it official early Thursday morning: Santa Claus is free of COVID-19 and has his final approval to visit P.E.I. tonight.

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Charlottetown boy exceeds fundraising goal to buy Christmas gifts for other children

Eleven-year-old Liam Bourque was devastated when he found out not every kid has the same kind of Christmas that he does.

With the help of his mom, Billie-Jean, he launched a campaign called Making Spirits Bright in order to raise money for Santa’s Angels, a group of volunteers who carry out surprise Christmas morning visits to families across the Island.

“I got the idea when I learned that some kids don’t have the basic necessities or even a gift to open,” Liam said.

“I just really felt like I could feel how they’re feeling in a way. I knew that it can’t feel good, so I wanted to try and at least bring a bit of joy to their Christmas.”

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