A Birmingham father, renowned for his extravagant festive displays, has converted his garage into a complimentary Santa's grotto, offering local families a magical Christmas experience without the price tag.
From Driveway Display to Winter Wonderland
Darren Mackenzie, a 55-year-old dad-of-four from Hob Moor Road in Yardley, has invested thousands of pounds to turn his property into a spectacular community attraction. Following his attention-grabbing Halloween display in October, he has now kit out his entire driveway with vibrant LED lights and Christmas inflatables, joking that the brilliance might be visible 'from outer space'.
"We have to turn the lights off at 10pm because they're so bright," Darren explained, noting the display includes disco balls and numerous lights. He lives at the property with his partner, Karen Pearce.
A Free Festive Experience for All
The centrepiece of this year's efforts is the transformation of his garage into a fully-fledged Santa's grotto. Families can meet Santa for free on Fridays and Sundays between 5pm and 7pm, right up until Christmas Day. Darren will be portraying Santa himself for the first weekend before passing the iconic red suit to a neighbour.
Every child visiting the grotto will receive a special gift. "All the kids will get a Polar Express bell - as long as we don't run out - and also a photo with Santa for free," Darren said, revealing he sources the bells online. He emphasised his motivation: "It's expensive everywhere right now. Grottos are £5-£10 or more. Families can come here and see something without having to pay."
Community Spirit and Continuous Expansion
The display, which was illuminated just after Bonfire Night following a short break after Halloween, has already become a local hub. Darren enjoys seeing the joy it brings, with children dancing to the music played until 10pm each evening. He credits his partner Karen and colleague Ashley Letts for helping bring his ambitious ideas to life.
Despite the extensive setup, Darren is not finished. He has ordered more features, including a three-metre-long 'ho-ho-ho' sign, an animated singing reindeer, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse inflatables from the USA.
While Karen admits the scale of the display is "a bit mental" and can draw beeping horns from passing traffic, she acknowledges the positive community feedback. The family invites everyone to enjoy the festive spectacle at 553 Hob Moor Road every day in the lead-up to Christmas.
