Ontario family pulling plug on light show and leaving town over targeted new bylaw, but mayor says he's no 'Grinch'

The Williams Lightshow in Kingsville attracts thousands of people each year, creating a nuisance for nearby neighbours according to the town

An elaborate and truly Griswoldian Christmas light show held annually at a southern Ontario home, drawing hundreds of spectators to the subdivision each night, won’t be going ahead this year and the family that puts it on is blaming the municipality for its demise.

The Williams clan of Kingsville, Canada’s most southerly town, is also pulling up stakes and selling the family home. They said it’s because of a new bylaw that’s too broad and too restrictive of their growing Williams Light Show – a 20-minute computer-coordinated light and music performance that ran three to four times nightly over the course of four weeks on their residential street.