ROGERS — The McClains’ annual Christmas light display started out small, when Richard McClain put up some decorations years ago for the benefit of his wife and grandchildren.
But their display, like the display of other Rogers residents, turned into a mix between public attraction and family tradition.
The McClains’ two-story house at 606 N. Fifth St. is covered in lights, and their yard is filled with Christmas decorations.
“It just gets bigger and bigger every year,” said Sarah McClain.
Richard McClain and his son, Todd McClain, manufacture decorations from bent and welded rebar.
The first display had about 1,000 lights, Richard McClain estimated. Now there are about 25,000 lights, he said.
The McClains had an extra power pole installed to meet the demands of the display, Richard McClain said.
“After all the neighbors and people started driving by, we figured we might as well keep it going as long as we can,” he said.
Richard and Todd McClain started working on this year’s display in August, Richard cutting and bending while Todd welded the pieces together.
Richard McClain said wrapping strings of lights around the rebar frames was the hardest part.
This year’s display includes a nativity scene and the Three Wise Men.
Richard McClain said he hopes to add a horse and carriage and ice skating children for next year’s display.
The displays have demanded some sacrifice. Last year, Richard McClain fell off a stepladder and had to have his knee replaced.
“Last year was kind of some expensive lights for me,” he said.
Dorothea Dail lives across the street from the McClains. She said she looks forward every year to the display.
“I don’t even turn my lights on, they’re so little,” she said. “I just look at theirs.”
At 224 W. Cherry St., Danielle Bolte and her husband have a display including hot air balloons and, for the first time, a “mega tree.” The tree is constructed out of about 2,400 lights and a pole and flashing in time with Christmas music.
“We love Christmas,” Bolte said. “We love the lights.”
The Boltes’ display, like the McClains’, started small. They have added to it every year, buying decorations on sale after Christmas.
Bolte said the goal is to spread the Christmas spirit.
She said she came outside one day to find children playing in her yard among the lights.
The children’s mother, standing nearby, was crying, Bolte said. The mother said she and her children were living in a shelter and thanked Bolte for giving her children a taste of Christmas, Bolte said.
“We do it more or less for those kinds of people,” she said.
Web Watch
See a Google map of some Christmas light displays in Rogers and add more from anywhere in Northwest Arkansas.
http://bit.ly/52AHpI