By Kim Kalunian, WPRO Contributor
Sure, there are professional displays you can head to this 2015 holiday season, but there are also dozens of spectacular homemade light displays across Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut that can’t be missed. With glittering globes, fanciful figurines, choreographed musical numbers and thousands of twinkling lights, these homemade displays are sure to make your holiday season merry and bright.
The Picozzi Family Christmas Display – 75 Gristmill Road, Warwick
Visit their website
Frank Picozzi is always working to make his Warwick display bigger and better. Spectators can see Christmas lights “dance” in time to seasonal songs on his front lawn every night this holiday season. The lights go on daily at 5:30 p.m. and shine until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 10:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Music can be heard by tuning car radios to 97.1 FM. Picozzi also accepts donations from those who attend the display to benefit the Make a Wish Foundation.
The Crazy Christmas House & The Conway Christmas Lights Extravaganza – 265 Maple Valley Road, Coventry, RI
Visit their Facebook
Tyler Horrocks and Joey Conway have come together this year for a massive Christmas light display in Coventry. This year’s display features more than 100,000 dancing lights, 65 handmade character cutouts and more.
The Frisina Family Christmas Lights - 283 Massasoit Ave., East Providence
Visit their Facebook
The Frisina Family sets up a show of 13,000 lights at their Massasoit Avenue home. Listen to the holiday tunes on 89.9 FM.
Lewis Family Christmas – 12 Shenandoah Road, Warwick
Visit their website
Take a turn off Post Road in Warwick as you head to East Greenwich and you’ll find the Lewis Family Christmas light display. The family of seven all contributes to the display, which even includes fake snow. The lights come on daily at 5 p.m. and shine until 9. This year the display includes over 400 channels of computer animation, a set of RGB “leaping arches”, 5 RGB Shooting Stars, and raised their 16.5 Screen higher, to make it easier to see.
Head Family Christmas – 6 Merchant Street, Rumford
Visit their Facebook page
This display of 20,000 lights dances to the music on 91.7 FM.
The Cavallaro Christmas Display – 6 Hebdeen Street, Johnston
Charles Cavallaro started decorating his home in 1972 and never stopped. Although his lights don’t “dance” and there’s no music, local still flock to his yard to look at his dazzling display. Cavallaro’s lights shine nightly from 4:30 to 9 p.m. He says he continues to decorate his home just to see the smiles on kids’ faces.
National Chain Christmas Display – 55 Access Road, Warwick
The sprawling display on the front lawn of the National Chain Group in Warwick can be seen glowing from Route 95. But you can also visit it on foot, too. Head into the industrial area off Jefferson Boulevard and you’ll be able to get an up-close look at the dozens of figurines and thousands of lights that sit just off the highway. The display has been up and running since 1973.
Giroux Family Christmas Display – 69 Outlook Avenue, East Providence
Visit their Facebook
The Giroux Family Christmas Display lights nightly, starting at 5 p.m. and running until 10 p.m. Listen to the music for the display on 94.9 FM.
The Sachs Family Lights Extravaganza – 21 Mann Street, Bellingham, MA
Visit their Facebook
It takes the Sachs family nearly 365 days, 40,000 lights and two miles of extension cord to make their Christmas display a reality. Listen to the show on 101.7 FM and be dazzled by the dancing lights. The show runs nightly starting at 5:30 p.m. and continuing until 10 p.m. weeknights and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Although their address is in Mass., the Sachs home is only about a block away from Woonsocket, RI. This year The Sachs Family Lights Extravaganza is accepting monetary donations for the American Cancer Society.
Quiet Corner Christmas - 251 Wauregan Rd., Brooklyn, CT
Visit their Facebook
Hop over the western Rhode Island border to Brooklyn, Conn. for this light show. Just 10 minutes off Route 6 is Quiet Corner Christmas. The show features 77,000 lights and a half dozen Christmas songs for your enjoyment. Listen to the tunes on 95.1 FM. The display runs nightly from 5 to 10 p.m. with an extra hour on Fridays and Saturdays.
Lagarto Light Display - 192 Jean Drive, Seekonk, MA
This display features more than 32,000 lights that dance to holiday tunes. Neighbors say the Lagarto family is in love with the spirit of Christmas and wants to share it with folks who stop by. The display runs nightly from 5 to 10 p.m. and music can be heard on 105.5 FM.
Amarante's Winter Wonderland - 8 Pratt Road, Dayville, CT
Visit their Facebook
Just over the Connecticut border in Dayville, Amarante’s Winter Wonderland has been lighting up the night for the past eight years. Started by Daniel Amarante and his father, the display has grown each year. Now it features more than 140,000 lights, 23 inflatables, and a LED walking path around the entire display. The displays runs nightly, 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Lights for Lives - 84 Hayden Ave, Tiverton, RI
Visit their Facebook
Santa makes a special stop at this home every weekend leading up to Christmas. Lights for Lives features over 30,000 led lights that dance to songs like “Let It Go,” “Wizards of Winter” and more. The show runs approximately 35 minutes, Monday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., and Friday through Sunday 4 to 10 p.m. Lights for Lives collects donations for the Tiverton Food Bank and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Listen to the show on 91.7 FM.
