For the fifth year in succession, an East Renfrewshire community is attracting large numbers of visitors to marvel at the spectacular Christmas lights display stretching the full length of their street.
Each resident of Lavender Drive in Newton Mearns has decorated the front of their homes in their own style, but some light planning among neighbours blankets the whole street in a winter glow in a street-wide display.
It’s little wonder that some are calling the ‘Lavender Lights’ the most Christmassy street in Scotland.
Uniform true-white icicle lights outline nearly every roof on the street and a menagerie of illuminated paper and inflatable lawn ornaments have made it a hit for children and young families.
Some are calling the ‘Lavender Lights’ the most Christmassy street in Scotland
GB News
Skye McKissack, a resident on the street, says the Lavender Lights began in 2020, when the street pulled together to help out a neighbouring family dealing with a terminal cancer diagnosis.
“One of our neighbours had got diagnosed with cancer and had two really young kids at the time,” explains Skye.
“It was just a really sad time for the whole street, because we were so close, so we had thought ‘what can we do to brighten up everyone’s spirits, but especially his kids?’
“One of the neighbours came up with the idea of decorating everyone’s houses for Christmas.”
By the time the 2020 festive period had drawn to a close, the street had raised £5,000 for the Beatson cancer charity, much in part from charitable donations from visitors who drove from all over to take in the lights.
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The residents all decorate their properties in their own style
GB News
In 2021, residents raised £22,000 for Cancer Research UK, then in subsequent years for Accord Hospice and Young Lives Vs Cancer.
This Christmas the street have chosen to look closer to home, with a Just Giving page set up to donate to the nearby Isobel Mair School and Family Centre in Newton Mearns.
Residents begin putting up their lights in November, with some taking in excess of 40 hours to finish the outside of their homes and lawns.
Skye says the appeal of a street-wide display is down to every friend and neighbour taking part.
“Everybody is so into it,” she says, “and everybody loves doing it every year.
Skye McKissack, a resident on the street, says the Lavender Lights began in 2020, when the street pulled together to help out a neighbouring family dealing with a terminal cancer diagnosis
GB News
“It’s a lot of preparation that goes into it and everybody really gets on board.
She also points out that Lavender Drive runs a full length with no bends and ends in a turning circle.
She says: “It’s very eye-catching and when you’re on the motorway on the way home you can see it straight away. It’s quite magical.”
Lavender drive is as quiet as your average suburban street on weekday evenings, but from Friday through to Sunday, the street is filled with an endless procession of slow-moving cars driven by intrigued parents shuttling mesmerised children who have all come to take in the lights.
Despite the necessary upkeep of 100,000+ bulbs, an army of inflatable Santa figures and various herds of papier-mâché reindeer, the residents of Lavender Drive’s winter wonderland say they are having too much fun spreading Christmas cheer to give up any time soon.
