If you are in search for a little holiday cheer this year, look no further than Buckhorn Road!
Trish and Jon Easton have created a magical light display that showcases the hope and inspiration of the holiday season.
The Easton’s created their light display show called Full of Hope: Christmas Light Show located at 1336 Buckhorn Road, Lakefield, three years ago after experiencing an enchanted display in Peterborough a year earlier.
“Three years ago we watched a display in town with my family where you drive up, you turn on your radio, and the lights all dance to the music. I had never seen anything like it before, it was really fun. We sat and watched it for almost an hour, the kids were just mesmerized.”
After watching the display Trish turned to her husband and asked if he would know how to create one. He said that he could probably figure it out and the couple started in January to create their own light display for the community.
“So we started in January doing research, investigating, purchasing, and so when you get the props, they are just blank, you have to put every single light in and build all the props and everything. So it took quite a long time.”
Trish told the Herald that to create the light show they first needed to get all the props which come unassembled and unmade. So they have to create them by putting in all the lights by hand. Then they have to pick out each song and sequence the music with the lights through a computer.
It took the Easton family a whole year to get ready for their first ever light display. Now, Trish says it takes about four months.
“My husband makes it all work. He’s the brains behind it all. I tell him what props I would like and where I want them and he wires it all up and I do the sequencing on the computer where you tell each light what you want it to do. So when there is a song playing, for each second of the song you say what you want each of the props to be doing. So I spend a good solid month just doing that each year.
”She said that even her kids get involved with it in one way or another.
“The kids help, the show is actually a storyline. So it goes back and forth between music and this speaking storyline. We have a tree and five bulbs. Those are our characters. Two of my kids are in it this year. They are two of the different bulbs. We have a friend who wrote the script for us. We find other friends to play the other parts, we have another friend who helps us record everything so we do try and involve different people around to help us, and it helps them to be a part of it.”
The Easton’s have created this display out of the kindness of their hearts and love for the Christmas season. They do not accept donations on behalf of any charities but rather wish to provide a fun and free holiday activity that the whole family can enjoy.
They have created a roundabout driveway specifically for this light show to allow visitors to drive in, get off the road and enjoy the show.
“You come into our driveway. We actually put a roundabout driveway in specifically for the light show. So people come in and I thought you could only fit about three cars in there but they park very creatively and they can fit about 7 in there at a time which through most of December is not a problem but then the last week of Christmas and I am often out there directing traffic.”
She said that last year they had about 230 cars visit as well as a bus! They are on track to double their numbers this year with many more visitors coming to enjoy the lights, story, and inspiration of hope during the season.
She said that while Facebook is the best place to get the most up-to-date information on things the process is simple: you drive in, turn your radio to 88.3 FM and enjoy the 25 minute show. It plays every half hour with the first show at 5 p.m. and the last show starting at 10 p.m.
More information on the light show can be found on Facebook under Full of Hope Christmas Light Show.
