Holiday light displays add extra bright significance in 2020

Neighbors in Southwest Florida are keeping holiday traditions alive during the pandemic. People we spoke to said Christmas lights on homes are more important in 2020.

Robert and Darlene Carswell like to go all out for the holidays.

“It’s not so much the stuff in the yard; it’s what people get out of it,” Robert said.

The couple looks forward to what their good cheer can bring others in the community.

“That’s why we do this because, you know, after a while, you can’t buy anything to please yourself, but when you give somebody, when you hear their laughter,” Darlene explained. “You cannot buy that and give it to anybody. You cannot wrap it up and hand it. That’s when spirit takes you over, and this is what our home does.”

The Groneman family has decked the halls for years as well.

“Just give them something to look at,” James Groneman said. “It’s another reason I do this is to spread joy and cheer.”

This year, Groneman is dedicating his display to his older sister Lisa. She died very recently after complications from cerebral palsy.

“She loved Christmas,” Groneman said. Every single year, it was her favorite holiday. She would start in November. ‘When’s Santa coming? When’s Santa coming?” And we’d have to tell her so many days away. ‘It’s almost there, it’s almost there.’”

From giant blowup figures in the Groneman yard to Rudolph leading the way at the Carswell house, the families behind the displays hope to end 2020 on a brighter note.

“We hope that by doing this, by people who come to visit, that they put enough light into their heart, that their light can shine in 2021,” Carswell said.

The Carswell family says they start setting up for Christmas before Halloween. Darlene and Robert say people always ask what that does to their electricity bill. They told us it triples it, but it’s a small price to pay for the goodwill it creates.

You can participate in Southwest Florida holiday lights too see where you can find some of the best holiday lights.

If you want to be included on the map, you can enter your address and attach videos of your decorated house.

MORE: SWFL holiday lights on the WINK News website