Brandi Eubanks’ and her sister, Misty Sharp Stringer’s enthusiasm for all things Christmas is genuine and instantly contagious. They are the masterminds and effort behind the creation and ongoing success of Christmasville, a fantastic Christmas light display, located on Highway 459 (Aimwell Road). This is the third year Christmasville has opened, available for the public to enjoy. The lights are turned on every day at 4:00 pm and stay on until 11:00 each night.
The two sisters, with a little help from Brandi’s sister-in-law, Kristie Eubanks, have created, built and painted every one of the various Christmas characters that line the quarter mile drive through the holiday extravaganza. Misty does the cutouts and Brandi does the painting. It takes four weeks to set it up in its entirety and they usually begin in the middle of October. The sixty plus cutouts and over 90,000 lights beckon from miles away and the experience doesn’t disappoint.
Visitors are greeted with an old classic truck dressed in Christmas lights with Santa seated and ready to roll. Whoville characters – including the infamous Grinch – the cast of The Polar Express, Disney characters, superheroes and other fictional wooden characters provide the cutouts in each setting. There’s also Christmas colored lights bursting from both sides of the dirt road, and themes from multiple other Christmas stories that entertain the eyes. Christmas music related to the displays plays joyfully over loudspeakers, so the sights are best enjoyed with windows rolled down and voices joining in with the familiar Christmas carols.
“Parents have sent us videos of their kids ‘oohing’ and ‘ahhing’ over the lights and singing with the songs,” Misty said.
Initially, Christmasville ran off welding machine generators. As it has expanded, the sisters have converted to electrical lines that are buried on both sides of the road where it’s located.
“We keep blowing breakers with all the lights! It’s been a joy adding more and more lights, but the breakers keep blowing!” Brandi said laughing. “I guess that’s a sign to know you’ve got enough!”
There is a donation box located at the exit, but that’s optional. These la- dies just want children and adults and all those who love Christmas to drive through and be blessed during the Christmas season and the presence of the One behind it all.
Other than spreading Christmas cheer, the sisters’ intention is to bring attention to the Christ of Christmas and beyond Christmas, and they extend an invitation for anyone and everyone to visit Christmasville.
“It’s a God story,” Misty shared with Brandi nodding in agreement. “It’s all about Jesus. We started with Jesus displays.”
Brandi added, “The main thing is love. One of our displays is a silhouette of Jesus resurrected and a silhouette (very similar to Brandi) running toward him. The display relates to everyone’s story and hopes to bring them back to Jesus!”
Nestled in the middle of Christmasville is a series of those biblical displays telling the story that Brandi and Misty are so passionate about. The Nativity, white and serene pulls both the eye and heart to its sacred beauty, followed by white lights and silhouettes of Jesus that visually relates the story of the cross, an empty tomb, Christ’s resurrection, and a soul joyfully finding Him.
“Christmas is every day, and the love of Christ is every day,” Brandi shared with conviction in her voice. “You can feel it when you turn into the road, feel His story…that’s why we made it.”
“God gave us every idea for it,” Misty said. “People say they can feel His presence when they turn in the road.”
Before Brandi and her family built the road, it was a mere trail she often walked through. It was there, on that very trail, that Brandi says that she found God and He showed her who He really was; thus the inspiration and purpose behind Christmasville: to display and share the love of God with others.
“I gave Jesus my whole self,” she said. “I pray that when others see my story, they will too. When I look back… He was carrying me, like a babe. He gave me peace – literally, the fear fled. He is beautiful. He is love, and if you know his love and mercy, it changes your whole life for the better!”
The two are adamant that the purpose and focus of their seasonal creations are to show the love and hope found in the Christ of Christmas and the displays are their testimonies to Him. It appears their message is being heard loud and clear.
A drive through Christmasville is worth your time, and if you and yours choose to turn down the road where the lights twinkle and Christmas songs fill the pine trees and night sky, be sure to enjoy the stories behind the Santas whose eyes twinkle. Savor the delightful, oversized candy canes, colorful superheroes and other familiar Christmas symbols while you hum along with your favorite Christmas songs.
Beyond the obvious celebration and color, remember the message Brandi and Misty have written into every sparkle of those 90,000 lights and labor-intensive creations: the love of God extends beyond the celebrations of the Christmas season into everyday life, and as Brandi so earnestly puts it, “Wherever you are in life, if you need to be held, He will hold you. Run to Him. Whatever, whenever you need Him.”
Merry Christmas from Christmasville and the sisters who make it possible, and in the middle of the hectic Christmas rush, take time to drive through its delightful winding road and rejoice in the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ.