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Published Wednesday, December 23, 2009 in Local

More Christmas lights you may want to see

By Jeff Bishop

The Newnan Times-Herald

Christmas light displays are a family affair each year for the Smith clan on Bethlehem Church Road.

Harris and Dot Smith join efforts with family members Brian and Jeanna Todd, Joey and Jennifer Farlow, and Jay and Kathy Smith each year to light up the lake at 1331 and 1341 Bethlehem Church Road in southwest Coweta County.

"I didn't get an exact count, but we had around 400 cars last Saturday and Sunday," said Harris Smith. "We've had a large turnout. One lady came all the way from Auburn, Ala."

This year the lights have been rearranged and some trees have been cleared to improve the view of the light display, Smith said.

"We took some trees down, and that makes my daughter's back yard show up better, which adds to it," said Smith. "This is all mainly my daughters and their husbands -- there are three houses involved."

Big hits this year are the ferris wheel and the merry-go-round, he said.

"You can see them better this year," said Harris. "And the helicopter, that shows up better, and the boat with skiers."

He said the re-arrangement is allowing onlookers to spot details they hadn't seen in previous years.

"I had an older couple come out and they asked me, 'Were those dolphins there before?'" he said. They were, Smith explained, but they just couldn't be seen that easily.

His wife, Dot Smith, transforms into Mrs. Claus and gives out candy canes to the children who come by.

"I forget how many boxes of candy canes we've gone through. We had three cases, I know that," he said.

"The kids like those, and they like the lake scene," said Smith.

Smith said he and his family begin working on the light display on Labor Day weekend each year. But seeing the reactions on the faces of the children makes all the work worthwhile.

"We've got 10 grandkids living around here, and they love to see those lights. They just have a ball," said Smith.

They emphasize that "Jesus is the reason for the season."

"We try to point out that Christmas is about more than just toys and candy. It's Jesus' birthday," said Smith. "That's what it's all about."

To illustrate this, the Smiths have constructed not one but two separate nativity scenes, "just like the Bible says," he said, with the wise men arriving at a later date.

"And to see the kids' eyes light up at that, it makes it worth every bit of work we put into it," said Smith.

He said the emphasis on the religious aspect of Christmas allows this "poor man's Callaway Gardens" to do things "that Callaway just can't do."

"And my display doesn't cost nothing," he said. "A lot of people tell me they'd rather come to mine."

The lights at the Smith display go on between 5:30 and 6 p.m. and remain on until 10 on weekdays and 11 to 11:30 on weekends, depending on the traffic. The display will be on through New Year's Eve.

Donations are being accepted for Can-A-Thons at Orchard Hill Church and Crossroads Church.

Other local light displays this year include:

* Hugh and Alice Nash's display at 50 Canterbury Drive in Grantville.

"The kids are excited about it, and that's what it's all about. It's for the kids. If we can make just one child smile, then it's worth it," said Hugh Nash.

The Nashes have a surfing Santa, another Santa with eight reindeer, and some lighted blow-ups. But "mostly we've just got lights everywhere," he said.

The children's favorites include a Santa in an airplane and Scooby-Doo, said Nash.

"Christmas is just about our favorite time of year," he said.

* George and Linda Shemo have a display at SummerGrove, 101 Lakeshore Drive, lit from 6-10 p.m. each night.

"We have 43,138 lights this year. We started it about Halloween," said Linda Shemo. "My husband has put in about 120 hours total."

The display includes plywood Santas and music, but "it's more lights than anything," she said.

* Theodora Stegall of 26 St. Clair St. in Newnan features a display of 30 Christmas trees in her house.

"I've been putting them up for 45 years, so I have some big ones and some really small ones, and everything in-between," she said.

Most of the trees have a theme. For instance, there's the "Tree of Angels" in Stegall's living room, and the "Family and Friends Tree" in the foyer. There's also a "Patriotic Tree" in the dining room and even a "School Spirit Tree" in the den.

"I have small trees, little itty-bitty trees, all kinds of trees," she said. "It's a tradition that started many years ago with my mother and my daughter. We all just love Christmas."

If you have a light display you would like added to the list, please contact Jeff Bishop at 770-683-1763 or at jbishop@newnan.com . The list will continue being featured through New Year's Eve.

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