Westerville home dazzles with Christmas spirit

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – After 15 years and with ever-changing light technology, Westerville resident Rick Hilyard has his vast synchronized Christmas light and music show, Dazzling Christmas Lights, down to one button. 

“Friday and Saturday we are so packed that we can kind of have an idea what the traffic lights are doing out on Cleveland Avenue because all of a sudden there’s 20 more cars that come,” said Hilyard. 

The husband and father said he lost count after hitting 80,000 LED lights. 

After realizing how many people were coming each Christmas, Hilyard and his wife decided to ask the community to give back by collecting canned foods for the Westerville Area Resource Ministry or WARM. 

“It’s a really easy thing for anybody to do. And we, I think right now we’re at 708 pounds for the month. I’m hoping we get more,” said Hilyard. 

Hilyard said he’s always thinking about what new displays and music to add for next year. 

It’s a big undertaking, but he’s proud to continue sharing his family’s tradition with the Westerville community and beyond. 

“I like the fact that families, once they know that we’re here, that they just make it tradition to come every year. The kids are so excited, they’re out dancing, you know enjoying themselves, it’s like, ‘alright, that’s the reason, that’s why I have to remember this when it’s the off-season’,” said Hilyard.