Light show starts up for season

The Christmas Glitter and Glow light show is back. It’s been hosted by Rocky Bernard and his crew at St. Bernard Farms for the past seven years.

The idea originated with Bernard’s mom, who passed nearly 11 years ago. He said she always smiled when looking at the lights. After her passing, Bernard said he started this to honor her love and passion for the holidays.

“That was my mom’s favorite holiday. … And it started as an honor for her and then it became this big community thing,” Bernard said.

Bernard said he did not anticipate the impact the light show would have on the community. Bernard said last year they had about 4,000 people show up for the event and for this year he expects there to be even more.

“I never dreamed it would get this big, but it’s been a fun journey,” he said.

The month-long light show takes three months to put together with a crew of 3-5 employees stringing lights from one end of the old Eastern New Mexico University football stadium to the other. Bernard said they always add about $20,000 worth of Christmas decorations every year to ensure guests a spectacular display.

He said they have a little over a million light bulbs for this year’s event. All the bulbs have been replaced with LED light bulbs, Bernard said this will make the light show brighter and more colorful than previous years.

“Just to see the happiness of the kids when they see Rudolph or Santa is really what it’s all about,” Bernard said.