In 2020, Atticus McCoy and Ashley Dixon supplied their COVID-19 aid stimulus checks to their family and friends. When nobody took the provide, the couple determined to purchase extra Christmas lights for his or her small mild present.
Now, the present options round 40,000 lights dancing in time to vacation music and in style hits.
McCoy mentioned that whereas they’re sure there have to be different homes in San Antonio with as many lights, if no more, than theirs has, their mild present continues to be distinctive in its personal means. “We undoubtedly have essentially the most coronary heart,” he mentioned.
The sunshine present at 10523 Coyote Hill in Converse begins at 6 p.m. each night time, ending at 9:30 p.m. on Sundays via Thursdays and 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. On weekends, the home hosts s’mores get-togethers and different small competitions and occasions for the neighborhood.
The couple’s favourite a part of placing the present collectively is interacting with the greater than 1,300 households that come to look at. In previous years, McCoy and Dixon handed out glow sticks to their audiences to allow them to know they may vote for the music and get to know them higher.
The music for the show performs on 106.1 FM, the native radio station synchronized with the LED lights. Final yr, among the many High 10 most voted songs have been “Barbie Lady” by Aqua, “Defying Gravity” from the musical “Depraved,” Mariah Carey’s “All I Need for Christmas” and “Santa Inform Me” by Ariana Grande.
The primary yr of the sunshine present, individuals might vote from an inventory of about 5 songs. This yr, audiences can select from round 110 songs, together with new additions like “Your Idol” and “Golden” from Netflix’s “Ok-Pop Demon Hunters.” As they vote, songs soar up within the queue for what’s subsequent.
After six years of shining via the vacations, McCoy mentioned they’re planning to take down the lights for the final time on January 3, 2026. This can possible be their remaining yr placing up the sunshine present as a result of well being causes, McCoy mentioned in a press launch.
“It’s not a choice we make flippantly,” McCoy mentioned. After years of again ache, he made the choice that this might be his final yr placing up the lights. “I hope we are able to hold going, and we in all probability might if we obtained assist. After having surgical procedure, although, I don’t assume I can do it myself after this yr.”
The couple’s custom began in 2019 with what they known as a “megatree.” With McCoy’s background as an Air Drive plane technician and expertise in IT, he figured he might placed on his personal mild present.
The subsequent yr, the couple spent their COVID-19 aid stimulus checks on 10,000 extra lights. Now, the present options 39,674 synchronized LED lights, two interactive picture alternatives and a few chalk and hula hoops for teenagers to play with.
The lights on the roof of the home keep up yr spherical, McCoy mentioned. The remainder of the lights and the props on their garden are taken down for the remainder of the yr. Between planning for brand new songs and setting every thing again up, preparations for the sunshine present takes weeks yearly.
How large is the electrical invoice?
Every mild prices about 25 cents to run, bringing the electrical energy invoice between $30 to $50 for the season. The entire setup runs on one electrical circuit, and your complete present solely runs at 25% brightness. In response to McCoy, the show has by no means as soon as tripped their breaker.
“The very first thing individuals at all times say is that they might hate to see our mild invoice,” McCoy mentioned. “The LEDs are so environment friendly, it actually solely takes in all probability about as a lot power as a garments dryer.”
In previous years, the couple has put collectively Halloween mild reveals as a take a look at run for his or her vacation present. For McCoy, his interest of making ready the sunshine reveals has been a labor of affection.
“Anyone could make their very own mild present,” he mentioned. As he takes a step again from his personal mild present, he’s supplied to assist others begin their very own reveals across the metropolis, encouraging individuals to get into the interest. “We simply need to create vacation pleasure for individuals, and we’re so honored to look at numerous households make reminiscences in entrance of our home yearly.”
Particulars in regards to the mild present, which runs via January 3, will be discovered on Fb and Instagram.
