CENTRE WELLINGTON – Lance Henderson’s Christmas light show is ready, and he hopes recent snow flurries will encourage folks to take a drive and see the display.
Henderson has been putting on his elaborate display for about six years – both when he was living in Elmira and since moving to rural property just south of Fergus.
What’s special about this is that the lights are synchronized to music.
Henderson said it’s his wife who is bonkers about Christmas. She used to compete with her father on who had the best light display.
Since then, Henderson found a system that synchronizes their light show to music
“I used to build computers,” Henderson said in an interview. “My wife is obsessed with Christmas. One year I offered this system as a gift.”
And since that fateful day, the parent-adult child Christmas light competition ended. And as the two households now live beside each other, they have pooled their resources and now put on one spectacular coordinated display that’s triggered by the music.
Those who swing by can tune their car radios to a radio station – the station is posted on a sign by the homes – and stop on the shoulder to watch.
There are 10 to 12 songs that play on a loop and the outdoor lights turn on and off to the beats.
While the show is free, Henderson is asking people to make a donation to the Centre Wellington Food Bank and the Guelph Humane Society. There’s a bin at the end of the driveway and a lock box for any cash or cheques.
“We’re paying for the lights and the cords and the electricity,” Henderson said. “100% of the donations go to the charities.”
The food bank needs non-perishable food items that have not expired as well as diapers and household items, like paper towels and dish soap. The humane society needs pet food, toys, and treats.
“They are not accepting used toys or equipment because of COVID,” Henderson said. “But new toys, food, treats – they are gratefully accepted.”
Both organizations are also accepting donations of face masks and gloves.
Henderson said their display attracted big crowds in Elmira.
“There was actually a tour bus that would go past our house,” he said.
Word of mouth is starting to drive traffic past their new location as well, he said.
Two years ago they collected $500 plus donated items; last year $2,000 in cash plus two truck loads of items for the food bank were collected.
The synchronized light and sound show runs from 5 to 11pm daily and ends New Year’s Eve.
The site is at 6067 Third Line, near Wildwinds Golf Links and Travis Hall Equestrian Centre. The bridge is out on Third Line so it’s best to approach from 30th Sideroad, Henderson said.
Here’s a link to video Henderson captured last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQbAvV5FVEI
