An Alberta town’s unofficial kickoff to the holiday season could be delayed amid suspicions of Grinch-style vandalism.

Sylvan Lake town officials say more than 11 sets of Christmas tree lights in its Winter Village have been cut down or torn down in recent weeks.

City spokesman Jared Waldo says constantly having to buy new lights and pay staff to install them puts a strain on the Christmas display’s already tight budget.

He says the town of about 16,000 people plans to replace the lights and repair any other damage before the winter village officially opens Dec. 7.

Since 2017, Sylvan Lake has hosted a winter village with up to 300,000 lights.

Sylvan Lake is approximately 160 kilometers south of Edmonton.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published November 13, 2024.