WACO, Texas – There is a couple in Texas who has been putting up Christmas lights for 22 years. They say this will be their last year to do it.
Roger Schmidt said, “After this, we’re going to call it a year.” “What a great run. The best thing about it is making other people happy.
It began with a simple “Merry Christmas” sign more than 20 years ago by Roger and Lana Schmidt.
“I’ve always wanted a Christmas tree,” Roger Schmidt said. “After church every year, we would look at Christmas lights,” I promised myself a Christmas show if I ever had the time and money.
The show has grown over the last 20 years to include a huge maze of themed areas and thousands of lights.
Roger Schmidt said, “You can walk through and see a lot.” “One of the women said she saw everything in an hour.”
In the front yard, you can walk through a skylit area with blue lights, a Christmas-themed area with dinosaurs, a swamp area, and many more.
The couple said that setting up takes four months every year, which begins in the hot summer months in Texas.
When they won first place in 2018, the Christmas display was even shown on ABC’s “The Great Light Fight.”
“We told all of our friends to come be a part of it when it all came together,” Lana Schmidt said. “We got more attention, and people who didn’t know about us now do. It was nice that it brought more people to us.”
The couple and many other Texans have been going to the show every year for the past twenty years. Lana Schmidt said that some people who used to go to the show as kids now bring their children.
They give out candy canes every Christmas Eve while sitting on the porch with family and friends. Of course, Santa also shows up sometimes.
Lana Schmidt said, “It’s cool to see what it’s become.” “It’s not just a light show.” People in the neighborhood are getting together to enjoy the holidays.
But Roger Schmidt was told he had cancer in 2023, which has made it hard for him to work on the show. They have chosen that the Christmas season of 2024 will be the last time they use their lights.
“We’d probably still do it, but I got cancer last year and had to spend most of 23 in chemotherapy,” he said. “The number one elf can’t work because of it.”
Roger Schmidt worked on the show for days this year, even though he has cancer, to make sure it was ready for Thanksgiving night.
He said, “We liked it.” “Don’t get it wrong. It takes a lot of work, but I enjoy it. We like making it. “I love putting up the lights and, of course, seeing that face.”
Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy their last season.
“Please bring your family and kids if you missed it or haven’t seen it yet.” “Go see the last season,” Lana Schmidt told them.
Roger Schmidt had this to say: “It’s very sad that we have to quit, but I can’t do it anymore.” Age does catch up with all of us, though.
The Schmidts said they wanted to keep the custom going by giving their decorations, lights, and blow-up characters to someone else. A gift box will also be there to get things for Fuzzy Friends Rescue.
At 20 Oak Creek Circle, off Highway 84, close to the McGregor Airport, is the Schmidt house.
