Published: December 18, 2006 12:28 am      

Annual Christmas light display in full swing

GREENVILLE — One of the largest displays of Christmas lights in northeast Texas is again brightening the night time skies near Greenville.

Dan Brown and his family have again thrown the switch on more than 500,000 lighted decorations and sculptures. Each year, several hundred cars and trucks drive through the display on County Road 4101 (Lancer Road), to marvel at the train, the snowmen, the giant trees, the carousel, the dancing dolphin and much more.

The first question which Brown is asked is why go to all this trouble?

Brown started the display, with an already impressive 300,000 lights, in front of his house about seven years ago, after he retired from a surveying company in Rockwall. Three years ago his son, DB, and his family moved in across the road and whole project was expanded and keeps growing every year.

Although there is no charge to drive through the display, the family does take donations to help in paying off the monthly electric bill. Anything left over goes toward purchasing items for next year’s display.

To get to the display from Greenville, motorists can take the Lamar Street exit off of Interstate 30, cross over the bridge, take a right at the stop sign, turn left at the next stop sign, then turn left on Lancer Road, make another left at the “T” in the road and follow the signs.

The display is open between 5:45 and 11 p.m. each night through Jan. 1. Once in the park, motorists can tune to 95.5 FM and listen to holiday music.