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Lacombe resident hopes to raise money for the food bank with festive home

Tracey Richmire’s family describes her home as a ‘winter wonderland’
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Richmire has almost 400 Christmas villages set up in her basement. (Alannah Page/Lacombe Express)

Christmas has come early to Tracey Richmire’s house. She has fully decorated every room of her home, including her bathroom, for the holidays.

The Lacombe resident began decorating in September and still has a few decorations left to put up. Her favourite display is in the basement where she has her Christmas village decorations.

Richmire has been collecting the villages for as long as she can remember. She has always loved Christmas and being able to celebrate all winter long.

She has around 390 pieces that go into the entire village display and has arranged them as if they are telling a story. There are skating figurines, Santa’s workshop and a reindeer flight school among many more scenes.

“I don’t get out to see all the Christmas lights every year so all I have to do is go into my basement,” said Richmire.

She has collected them from thrift stores, garage sales, friends and bought some displays new. She is always on the lookout for new scenes to add to her collection.

“Last year I got a whole truckload of houses from a town yard sale,” said Richmire.

Richmire moved to Lacombe last year and wasn’t able to fully decorate her home so this year, she wanted to do something extra special.

She is planning on hosting an open house in December for the community to stop in and take a tour of her festive home.

She is asking those who come and visit to drop off a donation for the food bank. There will be a Santa Claus for kids to see as well as goodie bags for both children and adults.

“I just want to put a smile on people’s faces,” said Richmire.

The open house will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 19 and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 20. Hand sanitizer and face masks will be available for guests to use before entering the house and COVID-19 protocols will be followed. Her displays can be found at 5211 52 St. in Lacombe.

“I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hopefully next year will be better than this year,” said Richmire.

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The displays are organized to tell a Christmas story as people walk through the basement. (Alannah Page/Lacombe Express)
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Richmire estimates she has spent close to $300 on batteries and extension cords this year alone to keep her displays illuminated. (Alannah Page/ Lacombe Express)
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Richmire’s entire house has Christmas decor including her bathroom and kitchen, where these two characters sit above her fridge. (Alannah Page/Lacombe Express)
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Richmire finds most of her decor at thrift stores and yard sales but also has friends pick up pieces from Calgary and Edmonton. (Alannah Page/ Lacombe Express)
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In her living room, Richmire has many more Christmas characters including a hula hooping Santa Claus, dancing Christmas trees and this Santa in a bathtub. (Alannah Page/Lacombe Express)