BLYTHEWOOD – Looking for a local drive-by Christmas light show that dances to holiday music? You’ll find one in the front yard of Mark and Pam Johnston’s home at 419 Mt. Valley Road in Blythewood.
This year, the Johnstons have added something besides more lights.
“We wanted to do more than just entertain with the lights,” Mark Johnston said. “This year we’re using the light/music display as a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Foundation. Donations can be made to @JollyJohnstons by either Cash app or Venmo. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to Make-A-Wish,” he said.
Created by Johnston, who describes himself as an IT/Techy kind of guy, the show has been entertaining friends and neighbors since 2011 and runs from 6 to 10 p.m. every night from the Friday after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.
The display contains 6.500 lights with dancing trees, candy canes, snowflakes and a central 20-foot tall Christmas tree, Johnston said. Around the main show are about 10,000 additional lights along with a dozen or so inflatables that Pam organizes.
“We have just over 20,000 lights in my entire yard,” Mark Johnston said. “That was a lot of work, but fun.”
The light show dances to about 7 different songs.
Now in its tenth year, Johnston said the project started with some stationary lighted deer and inflatables.
“I added the small dancing trees and candy canes in 2012, and the tree in 2015.
“It’s something we enjoy, and I think other people enjoy seeing it,” Johnston said. “And now we hope it becomes a way to bring some happiness to children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.”
