SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Colourful light displays, illuminating reindeer, Santa, snowmen - even nativity scenes - decorate many homes and businesses during the holiday season. Some people put time, money, effort and patience into such an endeavour.

Clayton Broadbent crouches by an artificial snowman decorating his home for the holiday season. - Jeanne Gagnon/NNSL photo

Lighted candy canes, reindeer and an artificial snowman decorate the home of the Pond-Broadbent family in the Niven Lake neighbourhood.

Michelle Pond said her family adds a couple extra pieces every year.

"That's just basically what we turned up with this year. Previously, we tried solar-powered lights. They didn't work all that successfully here in Yellowknife with the limited daylight. Every year we add a couple extra pieces and that's where we're at so far," she said.

Clayton Broadbent said they added the candy cane lights on the second floor balcony, three light-up reindeer in the front of the house as well as stand-alone candy canes along the driveway. He said the reindeer are his favourite.

"I do like the lights but I just got the reindeer out there and I have this tiny little reindeer, he's only about, maybe eight inches high. First I was afraid he would get stolen because he's so close to the street but I don't really have to worry because he's almost covered in snow," he said.

Broadbent said he was hoping to put a large, blow-up snowman on top of his snow-covered car but Pond was not too keen on the idea.

Driving through the Niven area, many of the homes are decorated with lights, wreaths and other festive ornaments.

"It's just nice to see that people are participating. I see there is quite a few houses in the neighbourhood that are nicely decorated. It's nice to be able to go out for a drive and see people in the Christmas spirit," said Pond.

But Broadbent said he'd welcome more competition.

"We don't get into any kind of competitions but I would love to have more of my neighbours kicking up a notch and putting more lights and such but everybody has such tall buildings that no one is willing to put the Christmas lights up so I'm lucky," he said.

Next year, the family is planning to put some lights down the length of his home, said Broadbent.

"Maybe put Santa Claus or some reindeer up on the top of the roof next year. I think it would look good," he said.

The family did plan ahead as they installed the lights in the fall, when the temperatures were warmer.

"We definitely did it when the temperatures were closer to zero, right after Thanksgiving we did it," said Pond.

She added most of the outdoor lights are primarily low-energy bulbs.

"We like to make this season nice and eventful for the kids. We do the same things at Halloween and things like that," she said.