HOISINGTON – Hoisington welcomed the holiday season with a festive evening Saturday night. With Santa and Mrs. Claus arrival and the business district open late to host a Ladies Night out, the evening offered something for everyone. Not to be missed is the musical light show at 252 W. 15th St. It is lit up from 6-10:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 6-11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Homeowner John Robinson has a passion to bring the joy of the season to town with his light display. “I believe this is my fifth year at my current home in McKenna Meadows. I previously had a very small light show that was about a block away from where I’m at now and did the light show there for four years. I’ve always enjoyed Christmas lights, from putting up my own to looking at others’,” he said.
Several years ago, he watched a local display that was synchronized with music and knew he had to enhance his own display. “I started with a couple thousand lights and have grown every year to 39,743, but who’s counting anyway?” he said with a chuckle.
Viewers can tuner their radios to 101.5 FM to listen to a playlist of seasonal songs. The lights are choreographed to the music. This list includes “White Christmas,” “The Christmas Song,” “Winter Wonderland” and 15 others. Robinson said,
“Some songs will flash more than others,” he said. “It’s just how I programmed them. If they flash 1,000 times per song every song it could become annoying sitting in a car, I would think.”
Light-up fundraiser for pets
Children and the young at heart can purchase light-up bracelets and wands that also synchronize with the music. The light-up bracelets were new last year. Robinson explained.
“The light sticks are new this year; they both are something that’s becoming more popular at concerts and other light displays. I, along with several others across the country, participate in a group buy in the summer so we can meet the minimum order quota and keep the price reasonable,” he said.
“We decided to use them as a fundraiser for LADA Paws Rescue because of our love for animals,” he said. “We came very close to selling out last year. Hopefully we can sell them all this year.”
The bracelets ($5 donation) and light sticks ($8 donation) are available at Hoisington Veterinary Hospital, the base for LADA Paws Rescue (https://www.hoisingtonvet.net/adoptable-pets).
“I sell them at home sometimes also , but it’s a lot easier on everyone if they can make it to HVH if at all possible,” Robinson said.
story and photos
BY MELISSA NECH
newss@gbtribune.com
