51,468 bulbs light up lawn for Christmas charity

There are 51,468 bulbs inDanyand CatherineFalle's front yard this year.

That's upfrom a paltry 47,640 last year.

And they all come together in a spectacle unlike anything else in the family's Lincoln, N.B., neighbourhood.

"Our light bill is usually between $200 and $300 more than it usually is," Dany said. "But it should be less this year, even though there's more lights, because I'mregulatingtheir energy."

Falle's control of the show is nothing less than precise, right down toindividual bulbs, as he orchestrates allthe moving and singing action on his snowy lawn.

A trio of 20-foot tallsnowmenwave their stick arms and move their mouths as theysing along to Christmasmusic.

A giant16-footneonnutcracker acts as host and usher, offeringparking advice and belting out DJ Santa.

A new feature this year is a large "Charlie Brown's Christmas tree."

Theplaylist ofholidaymusic, along with the mandatoryLet It Go, fromFrozen, is broadcast via Falle's FM transmitter, and visitorscan hear it all on their own vehicle radios.

Thepainstakinglychoreographedlight show plays out with a captivating electricity against temperatures now approaching 20 C.

"I'm always askingherthe question 'Why do we do it?'" saysDanyFalle,motioningto his Catherine."And when we see the kids that we havesponsored, then the question is answered."

More Than Pretty Lights

The Falles have raised more than $61,000 for the Children's Make-A-Wish-Foundation with their Christmas light shows.

The coupledon't just sit inside their brightly lit home in theConcordDrive subdivisionasthe light show blaresinto the winter night.

No matter how cold it gets, theycan be found at the end of their driveway collecting donations for the foundation.

The desire to help the charityeach yearis thedriving force behind the blood, sweat and programming tears that go into putting together light shows that are different every night.

"Last year wesponsored a kid who just wanted a Star Wars bedroom," Dany said. "And his facejust lit up so much when he got it. It makes everything worth it, and we just knew we have to keep doing it again."

"That's why we do it," saidCatherine. "And why we'll keep doing it."

Shows start at 6 p.m. and last until 9:45 p.m. onweekdays and11 p.m. on weekends until Jan. 1.