11/16/2024
๐โจ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฐ โจ๐
To our amazing supporters:
Itโs with heavy hearts that we share some news about the 2024 ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฐ. This post isnโt easy to write, but we want to be open about whatโs happened, whatโs next, and where weโre headed.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ซโ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Last year, during a Kingsville town council meeting, the Williams Light Show became a point of discussion. Concerns raised by a small number of neighbors led the town to propose a new bylaw regulating large holiday displays. This bylaw, which requires extensive documentation to obtain a permit, was finalized on ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐, ๐๐๐๐โlong after planning, programming, and setup for the show would have started.
Despite knowing that it takes months of work to prepare our display, the town council and administration delayed the bylawโs implementation for almost a year. This gave us no time to comply and no clarity on how to proceed within the guidelines of the new bylaw. When we reached out for clarification, immediately after the bylaw was passed, we were met with delays, vague responses, and demands for in-person meetings.
We requested written answers to ensure we could follow every rule and protect the permit (if granted), but the town refused to provide clear guidelines. In our view, the bylaw was written ambiguously, leaving too much room for interpretation and making it easier to revoke permits at will. Even if we had received answers promptly, it would have been impossible to set up the show in time due to the extensive effort required.
We poured hundreds of hours into programming this yearโs show starting in June, holding onto hope. But with the bylawโs timing, complexity, and lack of several important details, there was simply no way to make it work. ๐
The reality is that ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ.
๐๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐
This year has been a turning point. What was once a tight-knit, supportive town has changed in ways that no longer feel like home. After much thought, weโve made the incredibly difficult decision to sell 24 Marshwoods Blvd and will be moving elsewhere.
๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
We want to express our deepest gratitude to our incredible neighbors, especially:
๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ฅ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง across the street, who opened their lawn to thousands of visitors every year.
๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐๐ซ the red brick house - next door, who never complained about noise, traffic, or lights, and always welcomed the community.
To the rest of our supportive neighbors on Marshwoods Blvd and Conservation, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ. Your kindness and encouragement have meant the world to us.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฐ
This show began as a labor of love between Colton Williams and his late grandmother, Lois Williams, who passed away from cancer six years ago. Christmas was their thingโa bond that became the foundation for the light show. Since Loisโs passing, weโve raised over $๐๐,๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ in her honor.
While the lights wonโt shine at 24 Marshwoods this year, we hope youโll still donate to cancer charities in her memory.
๐๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐
This isnโt the end of the Williams Light Show. ๐ Weโre working with the Municipality of Essex and County of Essex to hopefully bring the magic back to a community near you soon! Moving the show is a massive undertaking, and we anticipate returning in 2026. While itโs a pause, we hope youโll keep the Williams Light Show in your hearts until we light up again, brighter than ever.
๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐
We want to ensure that no one makes the trip to 24 Marshwoods Blvd this year expecting to see lights. Please share this post with your family, friends, and neighbors so everyone is aware of the cancellation.
Though this will be our darkest Christmas since losing Lois in 2018, we take comfort in the joy and memories weโve created together. Letโs all light up our homes and hearts this year to spread the Christmas spirit we love so much.
๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ ๐จ๐จ๐๐๐ฒ๐โ๐ข๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ. โค๏ธ
With love, light, and holiday cheer,
๐
The Williams Light Show ๐
