A Home of Our Own
In 2002, we built our home in the same neighborhood where I grew up. Naturally, Christmas lights came with us. We added a little here and a little there — one more decoration, one more strand, one more idea for next Christmas.
Our Story
Long Before the First Light Was Programmed
The Christmas Family Lights officially began in 2009. Our Christmas story began in the early 1980s.
Early 1980s
Where the Magic Began
For us, Christmas has always meant family. Every first Saturday of December, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents and grandparents gathered at Pa-paw and Ma-maw's house and spent the day decorating. When the sun went down, the lights came on, everyone gathered to admire them — and then came pizza.
It was simple. It was family. And those memories stayed with us for a lifetime.
Christmas Eve
When Christmas Felt Like Magic
Twenty or thirty cousins, aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents might gather under one roof. And somehow, Santa always managed to stop by. As children, we didn't think about the work behind those moments. We simply knew Christmas felt exciting and magical.
Growing Up
The Tradition Comes Home
Christmas didn't stop at our grandparents' house. We decorated our childhood home too. As I got older, I drew plans, chose where decorations should go, and worked out color schemes. My sister and I decorated together.
Our grandparents gave me an Empire blow-mold Santa and reindeer and Christmas candles of my own.
The tradition was being passed from one generation to the next.
A Family Legacy
Some Traditions Aren't Replaced.
They're Passed Down.
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Some decorations that became part of The Christmas Family Lights first shined at Pa-paw and Ma-maw's house. The Nativity, Santa and reindeer carried our family's Christmas memories with them.
An Animated Idea
Inspired by Light-O-Rama and displays like Richard Holdman's famous Amazing Grace house, we decided to create an animated Christmas light display. That idea became The Christmas Family Lights.
2009 · A Name Arrives
But What Do We Call It?
The lights had a beginning before they had a name. Then a Christmas card arrived in the mail, addressed to the family known for the synchronized lights.
“The Christmas Family Lights”
And just like that, we had our name.
One Light at a Time
And the Lights Kept Growing
Step by step. Light by light. Year by year. Every season brought another idea, another display and another project. Then something happened we never could have planned: the neighborhood started joining us.
A Milestone Along the Way
Word Begins to Spread
This newspaper feature captured one chapter of the growth, when our home was described as having approximately 45,000 lights connected to a computerized animation system.
It is a snapshot of a moment in the journey — long before the neighborhood-wide experience visitors know today.
Why We Keep Doing It
We Remember Being the Kids in the Back Seat.
We remember driving around at Christmas with our families looking for decorated houses. We remember staring out the window when we found that house. We remember the excitement — and the people sitting beside us.
We want to bring back those childhood memories for the adults who visit us and create brand-new ones for their children and grandchildren.
That's how Christmas traditions continue.
From Our Community to Your Family
A Christmas Memory Shouldn't Need a Ticket
We believe every family should be able to pile into the car, turn on the Christmas music and spend an evening together looking at lights without worrying about what it costs.
That's why The Christmas Family Lights is absolutely free.
It's our community's Christmas gift to your family.
Early 1980s → Today → Tomorrow
The Lights Got Brighter.
The Reason Never Changed.
We were once the children staring at Christmas lights in wonder. Today, we get the privilege of creating some of that wonder for someone else's child.
From our family, our neighbors and our community to yours — Merry Christmas.Plan Your Visit