Pahīatua's Christmas Grotto giving back to the community

Just a hint of what's inside the Makomako Christmas Grotto in Pahīatua.

Craig Sowry and his wife Lori Teddy say they’re ‘fairly extremely’ into Christmas.

“I’ve been decorating houses for 20-plus years in Pahīatua and other places we’ve lived and [Lori’s] got a lot of stuff she’s collected over many years and really enjoys,” he says.

They used to just decorate their own home and when they moved to the farm on Makomako Rd, they started doing it there.

Craig says a few people came through and really enjoyed what they’d done.

“So it sort of grew from there.”

The house’s decorations can be seen by people driving between Pahīatua and Palmerston North via the Pahīatua Track.

“The community loves it,” Craig says.

“It’s just giving to the community, really.”

When they decided to expand to create the Christmas Grotto, they approached Help’N’Hand Pahīatua about taking donations for the foodbank.

He says the community organisation also donated a couple of trees that other people had handed in for the grotto.

“So it’s sort of grown from there.”

The idea of having Christmas lights and decorating houses for Christmas seems to have grown in popularity.

Craig believes that with people finding life difficult these days, going to see Christmas lights is a simple pleasure.

“They get to drive around the town and they get to see the work that somebody else has done that they possibly can’t, haven’t got the time or the money to do themselves.”

Craig says when decorating the house, he would put up around 40,000 lights, with 1000 taking him about an hour.

This year, about 100 hours have gone into creating the grotto.

“There’s been a lot of behind-the-scenes work,” he says.

The couple had friends visit and they all got stuck in and got a “heap” of lights up.

“It’s sort of been a friends and family effort.”

The grotto will be open from 6pm to 9pm on December 13, 14, 15 and 20, 21 and 22 with a matinee from 1pm to 4pm on December 15 and 22.

While there is no charge for entry, for those who are able, bring a donation for the Pahīatua foodbank.

Also for those visiting, Craig and Lori would like to remind you to wear shoes on your trek through the grotto.