Twenty-year-old Nick Rogers is passionate about two things: Disney and Christmas.
The Plant City native has found a way to combine his love for the two in a computerized Christmas light show, complete with 26,000 lights, 50 strobe lights and a 10-foot tall Christmas tree that dances to music. The lights are spread over two houses on Bella Garden Lane off Sparkman Road.
He has opened the display to visitors until Sunday, Jan. 3.
Rogers first started the show, named the Lights of Winter after the former EPCOT production, three years ago.
“I love Christmas,” Rogers said. “Christmas is my favorite holiday.”
Rogers has always enjoyed putting up Christmas lights with his family but found his inspiration through Christmas light displays at Walt Disney World, especially the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. The annual production features 5 million lights dancing to music.
“I’m a crazy Disney fan,” Rogers said.
Once he began working at Disney in merchandise, he decided it was finally time to do a large production of his own. Of course, Rogers’ show wouldn’t be complete without a few tributes to his favorite theme park — guests who come to see the
Lights of Winter can find 11 hidden Mickeys combined on both houses.
But it’s not enough for Rogers to just decorate both houses.
All year long, he has been working on computerizing the LED light show to fit over 10 Christmas songs, including Christian and contemporary songs.
“Everything’s completely programmed by me,” he said. “Each tenth of a second is a light switch. They are programmed differently to each song. We’re Christian so we try to pick Christian songs, but we also throw ones in there that are danceable.”
BETTER AND BRIGHTER
When Rogers first began doing the computerized light show, he had 4,750 lights on his parents’ home. When the family moved down the road, Rogers was able to grow to 10,000 lights.
“This is my parents’ dream house,” Rogers said. “They considered where to place outlets (for the lights).”
When the family moved and Rogers’ next door neighbor, Ryan Richter, saw the light display, he asked Rogers to decorate his house as well. Located off of a gravel driveway, guests are able to walk between both houses with little to no traffic.
By next year, Rogers hopes to have up to 50,000 lights on both houses.
Each year, he tries different ideas to make the light show better and brighter than the year before.
“I try to make them spin around the house,” Rogers said.
Despite the time and money that Rogers has put into the show — it took him three weeks to put the lights up on both houses — he isn’t looking to make money off of his show. The show is free for everyone who wants to enjoy it.
“I want to spread the Christmas spirit,” Rogers said. “Christmas should be free.”
As the show grows each year, Rogers hopes that his production will attract more and more guests. The first year, he was able to count the number of cars at the show on one hand. This year, he said, the interest is growing.
“People have said it will be a family tradition,” Rogers said. “I get compliments on strobes. They love it.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
IF YOU GO
Lights of Winter
When: 6 to 10 p.m., weekdays; 6 to 11 p.m, Fridays and Saturdays; through Sunday, Jan. 3
Where: 3212 and 3218 Bella Garden Lane, Plant City; attendees can park on the gravel driveway to avoid blocking traffic on Sparkman Road.
Cost: Free