INDIAN RIVER – As they watched the fire claim their dream home, Barbie and Wayne Locke called to the firefighters to save the control boxes that run their Christmas light show.
“You know it’s important when we’re calling to the fire department to save our controllers,” said Wayne with a chuckle.
The fire occurred on Jan. 7, during a snowstorm, and was started by the car that was parked in the garage. Barbie and Wayne were out at the time of the blaze.
“It was devastating. We built the house ourselves. And I mean that literally. It was our retirement home. We sat in our car and watched it burn. We only had the clothes on our back,” said Barbie.
The house was a total loss, and as they decided to rebuild their home, a major setback halted their plans.
“We were going to use the foundation of the old house after and use the same footprint to build the new house. But during demolition, the foundation was destroyed. So we weren’t able to start rebuilding until May,” she explained.
Every year the pair, with the help of their son, would set up a musical Christmas lights show that people from across the Island would travel to see.
“Thankfully we had already taken the lights down before the fire. We knew there was a storm coming so we quickly stripped them off. They were in my shop so they weren’t taken by the fire,” said Wayne.
This year the musical display is back and better than ever, said Wayne.
“The Christmas House has made a full recovery.”
As a young boy, Wayne loved Christmas lights and that passion was transferred to his son. A few years ago when their son saw a video of a musical display, he decided to try his hand at making his own controller box.
Now they have about 10,000 lights, multiple displays and about 2,000 feet of cords that comprise their display.
“After the fire, we had so many people ask if our lights were OK or if we would ever put them back up. I think because so many people wondered and love the display, it gave us even more reason to put it up again,” said Wayne.
Once the pair moved into the new house in September and settled in as much as they could, they got to work on building a third controller box – one was destroyed by the blaze – and enlisted their son’s technical skills to make it work.
“It takes about 50 hours just to program one song. Usually once November hits, we start working on the display. Then it takes about seven days to get all the displays up and work through the kinks.
“But it means so much to us, and to others, so we had to,” said Barbie.
Wayne added, “It’s really exciting to put it up. Last year we had a couple come to our door and tell us how much they loved the show. They were even going to go back and bring their family to see it.
“Then one time there was a group of kids who rang the doorbell and left us a box of chocolates. The viewers’ reactions and smiles are why we do it every year.”
The light show is running seven days a week from 4 to 11 p.m. at 1235 Clermont Road.
Which songs are part of the show?
– “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer”
– “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
– “Amazing Grace”
– “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch”
– “Overture”
– “Reflections of Earth”
– “Winter Wonderland”
Five fast Facts about the Christmas House
– 10,000 lights
– 2,000 feet of cords
– 700 lights in each jumping arch
– Display runs from 4 to 11 p.m. seven days a week
– 1235 Clermont Road, Indian River.
