Will you accept the challenge?

Rick Walker is on a mission. His goal? To make this Christmas the brightest.

This month, Creston Area Swap members reacted to Walker’s post where he proposed a Christmas Light Display Challenge.

“Basically, all I am asking is for people to put up at least one strand of lights or a Christmas tree in their front window that you can see from the road,” Walker said. “Just to give the town a little bit more of a Christmas feel to it. If you have the whole block of houses on both sides with just one strand of lights on each house, it’s just going to look cheerful.”

Traditions

Walker said one of his favorite memories was driving around with his parents Christmas eve to scope out the neighborhood lights in his hometown of Hays, Kan.

“One guy had had a farmhouse all lit up with a sign that said ‘Santa’s Workshop,’” Walker said. “There would be people coming from miles and miles away to look at it.”

Walker said, when he first moved to Creston in 2012, he had to keep decor on the exterior of his apartment to a minimum. After he set out with his son Austin to find some big Christmas light displays in town, Walker decided to take action.

“I moved into a house shortly after Christmas because I was so disappointed,” Walker said.

Walker said his dad goes “all out” covering his childhood home in lights. And, as the saying goes, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“I have 15,152,” Walker said of his lights, which are all synchronized to Christmas music.

Walker said he just wants to give his son the same enjoyment of looking at lights that he had as a child.

“I know, as a kid, I loved them,” Walker said.

And now, Walker enjoys watching passersby slow down to appreciate his lighted Christmas display.

Got lights?

After Walker’s challenge on Creston Area Swap, he has received messages from other Crestonians who have decorated.

“The west side of town is starting to put up a lot more lights just since that post,” Walker said.

Walker said his Christmas light display is the result of collecting over the years.

“I add to it each year,” Walker said.

Walker said the best time to purchase Christmas lights is after the holidays and the best selection he has found is at ACE Hardware and Menards.

“It’s great,” Walker said. “Everything is at least 75-percent off.”

Walker hopes more people will partake in the challenge, but, understands if it is financially challenging for some.

“I know people struggle day to day to make their bills, but, with one strand of lights and having it on for four hours on Christmas eve or Christmas day, won’t affect their electricity bill,” Walker said.

He is so passionate about the challenge, he has even offered to help people hang their lights — as time allows.

Have you taken the challenge? Let the CNA know by sending and email to sbrown@crestonnews.com.