By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Travel to Sunset Heights and you just may feel like you have arrived at the North Pole. Tammy Nelson and her husband Randy have created a unique light display. The Nelsons’ display encompasses the majority of their yard and features a FM transmitter to broadcast music that is synced to the light display.
According to Tammy Nelson, the show is a labor of love. Mrs. Nelson credits her grandmother with instilling her love of Christmas. Mrs. Nelson said her grandmother always had a big display. “I love Christmas. I always have. We’ve always done Christmas big,” Mrs. Nelson said.
The display has been growing over the last seven years, according to the Nelsons. The Nelsons said the archway in the drive was the first animated display they made. Randy Nelson built the arch and the display has grown each year since with such additions as an elf, Frosty, Merry Christmas sign, animated faces that change to sing along with the music and two trees, including the Nelsons’ latest addition of a 12 foot lighted tree in the back by their garage.
When asked if she had any advice for those wanting to start a large display, Mrs. Nelson said to start small. Mrs. Nelson added that she advised not to jump in with too much at one time, but add to the show each year and build it up gradually. Mrs. Nelson also said that LED lights help keep the electrical costs down better than conventional Christmas lights do. Mrs. Nelson said she has received a lot of advice, assistance and display pieces from Animated Lighting out of Kansas City, MO. The company specializes in custom light displays.
The Nelsons also said their son has carried on the family tradition at his home on Highway 72 just past the old motel in Parsons. The Nelson spoke with animated pride at the display their son has set up. “Now Andy, our son has gotten into it big time,” the Nelsons said. “He lives down there where we lived and he built himself an arch this year.”
While the Nelsons begin set up in October and some trees can take around three hours to wrap, the Nelsons said that tear down goes much faster. The Nelsons said they try to find and fix any issues with the display as they tear down with some items being placed aside for Mr. Nelson to address later in his workshop.
The Nelsons have opened their driveway to the public in order to fully experience the light show. The drive features a lighted arch and overhead laser lights along the drive.
The display begins at 5p.m. nightly and ends around 11p.m.
