It was more than 30 years ago when Peter first created a light display at his fruit property outside of the town, one that grew to cover more than 250 metres of frontage and was dubbed Christmas Wonderland.

Peter was fence side last year despite being ill as he farewelled generations of grateful families who have been visiting over the years.

Loxton Lights Committee chair Deb Thiele says when Peter began to struggle and announced last year was his last display there was much discussion about continuing the tradition.

It was the Loxton North Sports Club that stepped up to ensure his festive spirit lived on.

A team of volunteers mobilised to move his intricate display from its village-sized nativity scene to Santa sleighs, Disney princesses, reindeers, a polar bear and Cinderella’s carriage, to its new home.

“Peter was chair of the Christmas lights committee for a long time and he wanted to have his wonderland donated to the community,” Deb says.

“Michelle Hill from the sporting club stood up and said she’d give it a go. We gave some support financially and the infrastructure was put in place at Loxton North.

“A team of volunteers worked literally thought the rain, hail – and no snow – but there were thunderstorms, to get it all together and it’s come together beautifully.”

It was Peter’s generous Christmas spirit that inspired this Riverland town of 11,500 to embrace the magic of glittering lights and festive displays.

Peter Mangelsdorf at his Christmas Wonderland.

These days its Christmas Lights Festival attracts busloads over December where visitors wander through streets lined with decorated homes or meet the bearded man himself at Santa’s grotto.

Now they can also head to Loxton North to take a turn around the new wonderland display that has added a horse and buggy ride along with food vans and meals at the club house to the experience.

“They have really shown Peter great respect and there’s a picture of him there among the lights,” Deb says. “I reckon he would love it.”

Cooper Morgan and Ella Clayton were wandering through the lights as a glorious sunset formed a backdrop this week, the two locals are regular visitors.

Ella’s favourite display is the polar bear but Cooper says it’s the lights carefully draped along a fence line that are top of his list.

“That’s because he put them up,” Ella says with a laugh.

Cooper recalls travelling to Loxton North with his family to help Peter Mangelsdorf set up his display over the years saying “a lot of people would help when he was sick”.

“It created a good sense of community with all of the lights and everybody would be out there,” he says.

While it is a change this year for the town’s festivities, Deb says the committee is working hard to continue its tradition with Peter in mind – along with keeping the magic of Christmas alive for the town as it faces the challenges of the River Murray flooding.

“It’s wonderful to visit our town, it’s not just the Christmas lights it’s also the floods to see, they are historic and amazing in their own way,” Deb says.

“I think we are all enthralled by the magnificence of it but at the same time we are conscious of people facing challenges.

“The lights, what we love to see is the magic they create and the smiles we see.”

Cooper Morgan and Ella Clayton help keep Loxton’s Christmas spirit alive. Photo: Belinda Willis