Clovis home celebrates Christmas with musical presentation

All over the US during the Christmas month several neighborhoods are joining together to create the most spectacular light filled show. With synchronized lights and music, lots of hard work and hours are put in to construct the perfect timing. Each Christmas every year continues to grow, many houses are setting up the newest LED lights and inflatable “Santas.”

“Lights are magical. Blinking lights are even more magical,” Terry Toews said. Terry and Deb Toews are homeowners and leaders of Fresno area’s new synchronized light show. The light show first started out by themselves but then they asked the neighbors to join in on the project. At the beginning of the year, the neighbors will have a board meeting to discuss the plans for the upcoming show.

In east Clovis, a block of 16 houses set up over 50,000 lights for a creative synchronized light show. Beginning this year, Santa Claus Lane sets up for show throughout December. The Santa Claus Lane light program parades more than a dozen songs and runs 60 minutes. The show features a variety of songs from several genres.

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Unlike other Christmas festivities in Fresno, this one starts a new trend of combined music and lights. But to prepare, the neighbors have a meeting at the beginning of the year to order lights and set up a budget. Once the neighbors have set up their lights the Toews begin programming the lights, which takes a few months.

In Fresno, a neighborly synchronized light show is rare. The Toews took up the challenge with their neighbors to display the brightest Christmas. While others may believe this couple is crazy, this has simply become a yearly hobby.

This acting as the only multiple house light show in Fresno, many have come to experience the Christmas magic. The opening night brought in about 5,000 people. Many were excited to see the new entertainment brought a neighborhood. Since then about 2,000-3,000 people have continued to watch the show.

The Toews started out their love for animated light shows by watching a house organize a Christmas light show on YouTube.

“I saw a video on Youtube of the first house that went viral with animated lights,” Deb Toews said. “We instantly said we have to do this; we started doing it just ourselves then this last Christmas I saw a Drone video of multiple houses and I showed the video to my husband. At that time we already had tied in our next door neighbors lights, and then when were talking about this years plans but we weren’t sure if we should add more lights to our house or would we wanna ask neighbors to see if any of them wanted to join in.”

While the process may be tiring and time consuming Deb Toews enjoys the memories and smilies from happy viewers.

“I enjoy seeing the kids dancing out in front of my house to the lights and music,” Deb Towes said. “We have had several retirement houses come through so knowing that we do this for the community is satisfying.”

The show begins at 5:30 p.m., Sunday thru Thursday is drive through or walk night. On Dec. 18-19 is the last walking only nights. Concessions are for sale which include: pizza, hot chocolate, hot dog and cookies. After this weekend of walking only then it will go back to driving and walking till New Years Eve.

To visit this spectacular light show the address is: Ladera Ranch neighborhood, 3100 block of Indianapolis Avenue in Clovis. During this Christmas season there other festive activities which include: Christmas Tree Lane in Old Fig Garden, Zoo Lights and the Fresno Chaffee Zoo and Global Winter Wonderland in Tulare.

For more Christmas events, read Christmas Tree Lane invites visitors, Dec. 2-25 and Cindy Lane prepares for yearly light show.