A bigger and brighter Christmas lights display in Massachusetts will make its national television appearance for the first time this year.
Christmas has always been Henry Swenson’s favorite holiday, the 21-year-old Topsfield native told MassLive last Thursday. He used to drive around with his family as a kid and take in as many light as possible.
“It’s addicting once you see all the lights, you just want to keep adding more,” Swenson said. “I always like going big and it’s fun, too.”
This inspired Swenson to produce his own light show, which caught the attention of ABC. Swenson’s display will be featured in an episode of “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” set to air at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19.
The episode was filmed last year when Swenson’s display featured about 50,000 lights. This year’s display, which was revealed on Friday, Nov. 24, has 100,000 lights. Swenson hopes the reveal will help build the excitement for the episode.
“It’s going to be super cool because people know that it’s going to be on a show this year, so they’re going to see it and then watch the show,” he said.
The display consists of lights that were given to Swenson by the Elliot family from Danvers who used to have their own light show, but stopped after moving away. Swenson estimates the entire display costs between $20,000 and $25,000.
“It’s a big display this year,” he said. “This is the second year where there’s a whole walkthrough display.”
Swenson said the show has a lot of vintage elements like blow molds, cartoon characters and gingerbread houses.
The 21-year-old started putting the display together on Aug. 1, often spending four hours a day everyday to string up the lights. He said if he did not start that early, he could never get it done in time for the holidays.
“I don’t really have a plan when I do it. I just go around my yard and kind of figure out where I want to put things in my head instead of like on paper,” Swenson explained. “I just kind of do it as I pull stuff out and then in the end, if I see anything that I want to move, then I can move it.”
Aside from his own interest in Christmas lights, Swenson said he mainly does the display for others to enjoy.
“Everybody that comes and drives and walks through it, they love it,” he added. “That inspires me to keep doing it.”
More than 100,000 Christmas lights cover a house in Topsfield. The display, which will be featured on ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” was coordinated by 21-year-old Henry Swenson.Henry Swenson
People who want to check out the light show for themselves can head to the end of Orchard Lane in Topsfield Fridays and Saturdays from 4:30-10 p.m. or Sunday through Thursday from 4:30-9 p.m.
People are welcome to park on the street or drive by the display. Swenson said the walkthrough will be closed if it rains or snows. New Year’s Eve will be the last night of the show.
Swenson is also collecting donations for Boston Children’s Hospital. People can donate by clicking here.
