The story below is from our November/December 2024 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
Photo above: Stephanie Klein-Davis
Experience the warmth of holiday cheer as neighborhoods come alive with dazzling light displays, spreading joy and creating magical memories for all.
Lighting up the night and putting a twinkle in the eyes of children and adults alike, outdoor Christmas decorations bring a special magic to the holiday season. Driving down a street of houses decked out in sparkling lights, festive inflatables and creative displays brings out child-like wonder.
It’s fun seeing how creative our neighbors get. From classic nativity scenes to synchronized light shows set to music, driving through neighborhoods to find the brightest and best light displays has become a cherished family tradition.
While there are some iconic places like Raleigh Court’s Westover Avenue and Maiden Lane and the Christmas Farm in Boones Mill, there are hidden gems scattered throughout Roanoke and surrounding areas.
The Green Family at 5130 Harvest Ridge Road
Mike Green’s Christmas decorating journey began in 2009 with just 2,000 lights and a Mr. Christmas light controller to sync the lights to music, all for the delight of his children and grandchildren. What started as a family tradition quickly grew into something more.
“Seeing the joy it brings to neighbors makes me so happy,” Green shares.
Each year, Green expands the display, welcoming families who have been bringing their kids and grandkids for years. While he does most of the setup, it’s truly a family affair, with his wife, Cindy, along with their children and grandchildren, all pitching in. The preparation begins in September, and once the decorations are set, it takes two full days to connect the power cords for the 70,000 lights synced to music.
Green’s passion shines through from the Ferris wheel and 25-foot mega tree to the seven-foot candy canes and other homemade creations. This year, he’s adding two new handmade decorations to the display. What are they? “You’ll have to come by to find out,” Green says.
The Reed Family at 3802 Colony Lane SW
Terry and Sharon Reed began with just a few lights on the gutter and front porch railing back in 1991. What started as a simple display of 1,000 lights has grown into a breathtaking spectacle of around 60,000 lights and over 100 trees.
Each year, they add something new, creating different scenes to keep the magic alive. Last year, they introduced the Grinch with his dog and sleigh and are planning to expand that whimsical scene.
He handcrafted the wreaths and manger. Together, they dedicate about 220 hours to setting up the display.
“It is a lot of hard work, but we enjoy hearing the public and neighbors come and thank us for the display and how much they appreciate it,” he says.
For them, it’s more than just lights; it’s a way to spread Christmas joy.
The Arredondo Family: A MAGICAL CHRISTMAS Projection Show Drive Thru at Fincastle Baptist Church
Last year, Johnny Arredondo’s wife, Cheyanne, asked him to make the Grinch stealing their Christmas lights. Arredondo wanted to do something truly special for her, especially after a few tough years filled with loss, health challenges and major life changes. His goal was to bring back that warm, nostalgic Christmas feeling for his wife. What started as a heartfelt gesture turned into A Magical Christmas Projection Show, projected right onto their house.
They invited the public to visit and families showed up with hot chocolate in hand. The Arredondos found themselves directing traffic, parking four cars at a time to watch the show.
“It was wonderful seeing people laugh, get emotional and make memories,” Arredondo reflects. His goal became sharing that sense of nostalgia and joy with as many people as possible, helping families create memories together.
This year, the show has moved from their home to Fincastle Baptist Church, where Arrendondo serves as Production Creative Director. Set up like a drive-in, viewers can enjoy an original production, with the church staff and volunteers working together to make it a true community event.
Last year’s eight-minute show took Arredondo about 100 hours to edit, and this year’s promises to be more spectacular. For a behind-the-scenes look at what’s in store, visit Arredondo Studios on YouTube.
Experience A Magical Christmas on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, December 6-22 from 6-9 p.m. at Fincastle Baptist Church.
Our neighbors create festive wonderlands to spread cheer and goodwill. Delight in the sights and sounds of the season!
The story above is from our November/December 2024 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
