A kind-hearted man from Keith has gone above and beyond to make his breathtaking festive light display “bigger than ever” this year.
Callum Stuart has worked around the clock to transform the bungalow and garden he shares with his grandmother Jessie at Seafield Park into a stunning festive display.
Since its debut in 2015, his display has become a popular attraction for young and old, generating thousands of pounds in donations for charitable causes each year.
On Saturday, families and neighbours gathered for the official switch-on.
Mr Stuart – who live streamed the official lighting ceremony last year due to Covid restrictions – said this his 2021 display was the biggest to date.
He said: “It’s certainly bigger than it’s ever been before.
“We always add a fair bit but we are running out of space now.
“It’s an expectation now that it gets bigger and better every year.
“It’s good fun. It’s definitely worth all the hassle when you see everything on and working.”
Donations from this year’s display will be distributed to three chosen charities, the Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, Assistance Dogs Scotland CIC and Keith Community Christmas Lights.
Name in lights
Mr Stuart first decided to spruce up his Seafield Park home in 2015.
Each year, their home attracts a daily stream of visitors driving or walking to catch a glimpse of the impressive display.
The dazzling spectacle can be seen from the south side of the town, from the eastern approach of the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness route, each day from 4pm until 10pm.
The 22-year-old revealed his love for lights began at an early age and how a simple family tradition has gone onto become a prominent spectacle in his hometown.
He said: “Since I was about two or three I have always been interested in electrics and lights and how things work. It’s just grown from there and I have just got more and more interested.
“As I started doing it more, it became an attraction in the town. The community got hooked so it had to continue.
“We have always had lights of some description outside the house but it has just grown arms and legs over the last few years.”
His annual display features numerous handmade creations constructed from recycled materials such as wood and water pipes.
“A lot of the lights are homemade,” Mr Stuart added.
“A lot of it is recycled materials and whatever I can get my hands on. Some of the light shapes I have made out of water pipes bent into shape. A lot of the newer stuff’s wooden stuff, made and painted.”
‘It’s worthwhile’
Among the new additions to his display this year is a helicopter, a fitting tribute to the Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.
He added: “We started raising money when it got fairly popular and at any given time there can be 10 to 15 cars outside the house at any given time just having a look in one evening so we figured we could raise some money for charity.
“In the past we have tried to keep the charities local but we have run out of local ones. One of the attractions we have added for this year is a helicopter so it seems appropriate to go for the air ambulance.
“It’s worthwhile. It’s great to see it going somewhere, where it will actually make a difference to people.”