Local spectacle of lights provides sustenance

Niwot's largest and most enchanting holiday display is officially switched on for the season. The annual eye-popping tradition that is Chuck Rodgers' yard atop the hill on 79th Street just south of Highway 52 will be glowing every night until Jan. 6. For over 30 years, the joyful and extravagant display has rung in the holiday season like none other in the area. It's also the perfect COVID-free, no-charge family holiday highpoint.

Amongst the thousands of lights, hundreds of inflatable and robotic figures, running reindeer, giant lit-up words, trees in multicolored regalia, and a chorus of Christmas songs, there are two boxes collecting monetary and shelf-stable food donations for Longmont's Meals on Wheels (MOWL).

Donations to MOWL from people driving through the feast of lights has grown tremendously each year. Some corporations have also given to the cause thanks to Rodger's light display. Last year's spectacle brought in nearly $22,000 and over 600 pounds of provisions for the Longmont nonprofit that delivers meals to those who are unable to shop or prepare food on their own.

In addition to delivering meals to seniors, MOWL has reopened in-person dining. Seventy-five people a day participate in the lunchtime program at the Longmont Senior Center. Also, Project Homecoming provides meals short-term for those who are recuperating from medical issues.

The organization is near and dear to Rodgers' heart because he wants to honor his father who was a big MOWL supporter, and because family members have been on the receiving end of the program when the need arose.

Rodgers is hoping to match last year's donation sums, or better yet, exceed them. This year, he created a parade float displaying the Meals on Wheels banner which he pulls with his tractor. He's participated in two parades: the County Fair Parade and the Niwot Holiday Parade, and next up is Longmont's Lights Parade on December 11.

Unseasonably warm, dry, and mostly low wind days made this year's weeks and weeks of installation a little easier. Rodgers replaces a couple of thousand light bulbs...yes, thousands, each year. Slowly LEDs are taking the place of incandescent bulbs.

Rodgers has worked for Xcel Energy for close to four decades, so he's an electricity expert. The massive light exhibit is supported by seven timer boxes, each on a 20 amp breaker. "I'm pretty much maxed out right now," Rodgers said. "I do have plans to increase my load capacity, but I'm still working on that."

Rodgers is always elated by the streams of cars slowly cruising through the colossal light display and he just can't resist adding more to enjoy every year. Some new inflatable novelties to watch for this year are a 20-foot reindeer that stands beside the 20-foot Santa Claus, a Santa in camouflage, and a few more minions. A new splash of lights strung across the driveway is the icing on the colorful electrical cake.

Inflated characters don't do well with wind...anything 7 miles per hour or more can shred the bigger ones, and the smaller ones can only tolerate 10 miles per hour. So Rodgers keeps a close eye on the weather throughout the month and brings down the inflatables, which are at least a third of the entire display, when the wind might do damage. Ropes, screws, and tape are other tools of trade for Rodgers so he can keep displays from getting too beaten up.

"There's lots of broken things in the garage," Rodgers said.

Rodger's outpouring of hard work and creativity is a win-win for the community. He's providing a smile-inducing holiday experience, in addition to helping feed our hungry neighbors in need.

The event runs every night from 5 p.m.to 9:30 p.m. until Jan. 6, 2022 and is located at 5980 79th Street. For those who want to donate to Meals on Wheels Longmont on behalf of the light display, but prefer to do it touch-free, there are several options: scan the barcode on the collection boxes or text "Niwot lights" to 202-858-1233 or visit http://www.givebutter.com/Niwotlights.

For more information on Meals on Wheels Longmont, visit http://www.longmontmeals.org.