Christmas season is nearing the end, but there is still another week of time to drive around and look at the holiday lights. Some homes hang a few up (like mine), some hang many up, and then there are those few that hang so many up you wonder at their electric bill.
These are the “doozies” of Christmas light displays. These stand out as clearly having the most lights in their entire neighborhood, possibly in the city. I will list a few I have seen, and hope others will add the locations of some they have seen.
I know it is actually outside city limits, but I found one huge Christmas lights display up Sunnyside a few turns up into the foothills. There is even a tractor made of lights where the wheels appear to be turning forward (due to the blink setting).
There is a big Christmas lights display just off Sunnyside at the corner of Dairy and Springfield. This one is nice because it has many of those blown-up lawn characters in addition to many lights.
There is a big Christmas lights display at the end of Coventry Court, which could possibly be the biggest display in Idaho Falls. The swingset is even wrapped in lights. You can easily find this place by driving south on Holmes past Sunnyside, you cannot miss it on your right. I recommend going into that neighborhood so you can see this place from the front, and because many other streets have great Christmas light displays also (especially Cavendish and Woodhaven).
There is a big Christmas lights display at the corner of South Boulevard and 21st, just north of Tautphaus Park. Last night I drove by and there were several cars parked around this house, and one truck was even driving through their circular driveway (which had a large green light tree in the middle) for a better look.
There is of course the big Christmas lights displays along Candy Cane Lane, accessible from both Sunnyside and Holmes.
I want to call special attention to the big Christmas lights display at the house just across Holmes from Candy Cane Lane, on the corner of Holmes and Hartert. Not only are their numerous lights and characters, there is a Ferris-wheel and sometimes Santa and Mrs. Claus are on the sidewalk. They graciously pose for pictures and hand out candy canes to passerby. They exude the holiday spirit as they lean in car windows to chat amiably.
What other Christmas light displays do you think are the biggest around Idaho Falls?
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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Joe, great article. I’ve seen the ones you mentioned and second the note!
Have you checked out the lights close to Iona? Very nice show I must say. I’ve been by there a few times with the lil ones and the wife, once we brought popcorn (pure hillbilly entertainment
Anyways, they have a sign out front telling you to tune in 99.5 FM and their lights dance to the music!!!
Such a good show, I think they play a total of 6 tunes, mostly Xmas music, the kids absolutely loved it… must say I enjoyed the show to. I thank whoever put up this incredible show, never seen one live. Again, thanks to the people in that house, you’ve put smiles on so many faces.
Each time I’ve been there I have seen 10+ cars watching, parked just across from the house. Its out at Barnes road… if you go East on Sunnyside, left on 45th, drive 4 miles to Iona Rd, turn right. You’ll go down about .3 miles and turn right on Barnes… you’ll see the lights on the right maybe 10 houses down.
Enjoy my friend.
Frank
Have you seen the big display off of South Boulevard by Tauphus park? It is on the West side of teh street. It is amazing!!!!
Frank – where is this house you’re talking about?
You have to go see the “Griswald” looking home in Ucon. Not sure of the address, but there are over 14,000 lights that cover the entire roof and walls of the home with Santa on a Harley. The house is located on the main street of Ucon just turn right off the Yellowstone Hiway and go down about three blocks.
I wanted to share an interesting story regarding a Christmas light display when I lived in Little Rock Arkansas for a few years in the mid 80’s. There was a family called the Osbournes that started decorating their house in massive proportions. I lived about 15 miles away at the time and I could see this house and their light display! It was so bright and suge a huge display people came from all over the state to check it out. To this day, it is still the largest Christmas light display I personally have ever seen on one persons property. It was definately a sight to behold. (there’s a movie I saw over the Thanksgiving weekend with Danny Devito that kind of mirrors what happened with this family with a light display and the neighbor that wanted him to take it down….sorry the name escapes me right now, perhaps somebody else remembers this movie?)
Anyways, each and every year it got larger and larger. They were on the news every year I lived there and even made the national and world wide news on a number of occasions. I remember the 2nd or 3rd year they started, they blew out a transformer on their block. They actually paid the power company to come in and put a stronger more powerful transformer in its place! Needless to say their neighbors weren’t too happy with all of this. Aside from the bright lights which could be seen from 80 miles away from the air, the traffic each year was backed up for miles and miles.
I remember the first time I saw them on the nightly news when I was back in Florida I was like “hey…I know that place”! I couldn’t believe how much their display had grown. (they were at 3 million lights the last time I saw them) The local news station said the Osbournes had brought their light display to Disney World. After doing a little research, I found out why. His neighbors had complained so much, they ended up taking this family to court. In 1993 the Arkansas Supreme Court ordered him to shut down their light display! Can you imagine?? Something that brings so much joy to others. People came from all over the world to see the Osbournes light display and because of a couple of grouchy neighbors, ended up having to shut it down. Luckily Disney heard about this and asked them to bring their display to Orlando. To this day the Osbournes have been have been sharing their joy and their light display with the world at Disney World in Orlando Florida. (which is now at 4 million lights!)
So when you’re out driving around with your family checking out all the Holiday lights around town, lets all be thanksful for those peopla that take the time to decorate their houses. It takes a lot of time and effort to put up a light display each year, but it’s so worth it when you see the joy that it brings others.
Happy Holidays everybody!
ps…if you wanna check out the Osbournes site and read up about their famous display, here’s the link. http://www.jenningsosbornefamily.com/christmaslights/default.asp
The House in Iona is located on Barnes Way. Go East on Iona Road (Same road as Bonneville High School and Rocky Mountian Middle School). Barnes Way is on the South Side of the street as you are entering Iona. If you get to Olsen street or the 6-12 you’ve gone to far. It is an awesome show Just a reminder to please be aware of peoples yards as you are watching. Last year many neighbors had people driving on their lawns and causing damage. Everyone is happy they are doing it again but it would be nice if they didn’t have to worry about things.
Over 30,000 computer animated lights and music. Show runs 14 minutes. 1385 Lowell Drive in Idaho Falls. South of Pancheri and west of Bellin Rd. Daily from 5:15pm to 10:30pm through December 31. Awesome.
Cool, thanks for the tip, here is where that place is mapped:
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I checked out the show. It is great. Tune your radio to FM 88.7. It has sychronized music set to the light show. This guy did the same thing for Halloween. He has an amazing set up.
We have a light show to music in Iona too. We have 20,000 plus lights set to music. We are on 3453 N. 55th E. Iona. Ours is different than the one on Barnes Way. We think you’ll love our light show. Don’t take my word for it though. Come see. Good parking across our home.
I saw the Iona show but was in a car without radio, so we’ll try that again. The Owens show near Westside elementary is very good, running 14 minutes. They have a short spoken bit at the beginning of their loop where they ask folks to not park in front of the home or block neighbors’ driveways and to please shut their lights off. The Owens might consider repeating that quickly between each or every other song instead of once every 14 minutes.
We’ve been there twice now, the second time to show some friends after a Christmas party. Great show!
We’ll swing by the candy-cane lane area this weekend. Any other major Christmas light displays around town?
Not Christmas lights, but a great acapella mashup of Christmas songs:
I went through Candy Cane lane on Sunday. It was very disappointing. There were not many houses lit up at night. If you take the family out at night, don’t count on this for any entertainment.
I wasn’t impressed with “Candy Cane Lane” either. I went through there last year and it was dissapointing then, so I haven’t bothered going through this year. I guess cause they line up some big wooden candy canes and light a few houses up it’s supposed to be the best place to go. Not so much.
I had heard that the people living on candy cane lane got tired of the vandalism so many of them have just stopped putting up decorations. I don’t kow if that is really why it sucks now but to me it makes sense.
It makes me sad that all it takes is one person to ruin it for the rest of us. What ever happened to respecting other peoples property?
I went and saw Evan Belnap’s lights a couple of nights ago. It is outstanding. I personally know Evan and I also know how hard him, his wife and his family worked on this beautiful display. They had a couple of hang ups but they were determined to “GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD” and have done a magnificent job. The radio station is definetly loud and clear. They know the true meaning of Christmas and we would like to THANK YOU Mr. and Mrs. Belnap for a marvelous show and Merry Christmas, from our family to yours.
Looking forward to these again this year!
Any new locations to add to the list?
Does anyonw know of any new light show for 2008?
I haven’t heard of any new light displays for this year.
Anyone else?
Fantastic display in Shelley Idaho. Over 45,000 lights computer controlled. Tune in to 90.7
What is the address to the light display in Shelley?
The address for the Shelley display is 543 S Park. It is two blocks east of Basic American. Turn east at the light, go two blocks. Turn right on Park. Can’t miss the lights! 23 Christmas songs all animated to the music!