Wednesday, December 25, 2024
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Vol. 54, No. 27
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
Warsaw homes’
HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW dazzles with music
By PHOEBE MUTHART Staff Writer
Four houses in a neighborhood in Warsaw are giving a special gift to the community. The homes all have Christmas lights this year and one of the homeowners is celebrating over 10 years of holiday lights synced to music. Adam Churchill has been decorating the outside of his home in holiday lights since 2014. “I started it and then my neighbors followed after me,” he said. “Our light show is a family-friendly, free Christmas activity that all ages can enjoy.” Other than Adam and Stephanie Churchill, the other festive families who participate are Dave and Cathy Cox, Alex and Leslie Garcia, and Andy and Shelley Schmidt. The light show is located in the Crestview neighborhood, 1916 E. Ridge Valley Drive, Warsaw. Tune into 104.3 on your car’s radio to listen. The mastermind behind the holiday house idea is none other than Churchill himself. It all started in 2013 when he and his wife were watching “The Great Christmas Light Fight.” “We love Christmas and thought it was so cool. She surprised me with my first controller on my next birthday, and in 2014, we had our first show. Since then, our display has grown significantly. This is our 11th year, and we try to add more to it every year. Our light display takes 12 days to set up and a month and a half of programming,” Churchill said. Their neighbors, the Schmidt family, were the first to connect their lights to the Churchill’s display in 2020. Since then, the Garcias and the Cox family have also joined in, creating a beautiful, synchronized neighborhood display. Adam Churchill said people can
expect a mixture of old and new Christmas favorites. “Our family and neighbors love seeing the cars lined up to see our show. We want our display to share the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus, with everyone who comes to see it,” he said. Five years ago, he considered not doing the Christmas display. “I told my father-in-law, Jim Derkacy, who helps me set up every year, ‘I don’t think I’m going to do our Christmas display this year.’ He responded, ‘Why? You can’t let your fans down.’ I chuckled and said, ‘Dad, I have no fans. You’re so crazy.’” But he insisted. “You have to keep the spirit of Christmas alive and keep the tradition going,” said Derkacy. “He talked me into it, and looking back, I’m glad he did. That year, our display touched many people and made all the work and effort worthwhile. We hope to continue spreading joy and the true spirit of Christmas for many years to come,” said Churchill. The four houses are synchronized to music, said Churchill, who did the music himself. He has also done light shows for Winona Lake and Fort Wayne. “I program other displays, too,” he said. Over the years, he has asked his other neighbors to join in the holiday light show. “We try to get more neighbors involved every year,” said Churchill. The light show runs until Jan. 4, 2025. Special hours are 5:3011 p.m. Dec. 25-26. The rest of the hours are 5:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 5:30-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Remain in your vehicles and do not block driveways. For more information or to go see the light show, visit its Facebook page and go to “Warsaw light show.”
GARCIA HOME — Shown is the home of Alex and Leslie Garcia, who joined in the neighborhood light show in 2022. Photo provided by Adam Churchill.
DECK THE PORCH — Shown is Adam Churchill and his father-in-law, Jim Derkacy, left, decorating Churchill’s house in Warsaw. Photo provided by Adam Churchill.
COX CHRISTMAS LIGHTS — Shown is the Warsaw home of Dave and Cathy Cox, who joined in on the light show in 2022 with the Garcia family. Photo provided by Adam Churchill.
HOLIDAY HOUSE — Shown is Adam and Stephanie Churchill’s home in Warsaw. They started decorating the home in 2014 and he syncs the light show to music, which can be heard on 104.3. Photo provided by Adam Churchill.