Don Finkbeiner of tour promoter Heartland Travel said the Christmas tour is not yet as popular as their Haunted Tour, which attracts hundreds of people around Halloween. He noted holiday decorations are no longer the draw they once were, which prompted Heartland Travel to add the museum visit. "Displays don't seem to be as spectacular as they used to be," he said, adding some areas, such as Linden Woods, remain well lit up.

Finkbeiner joked that residents there probably don't have a choice when it comes to being in the Christmas mood. "If you moved into the neighbourhood, you'd get people knocking on your door saying 'By the way, you have to put up lights.' I'm sure they have meetings about it."

Tour organizer Heather Pedreira wondered if the recent decision to cancel an annual Christmas lights contest called Winnipeg In Lights might explain the dimming of the decorative spirit. "It's sad. It's too bad they aren't doing it this year because it used to provide us a list of addresses for the tour," she said.