For twenty-one years, Colin and Katherine Fitzgerald have been gathering ornaments for their Christmas display.
The day after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the transformation of the Fitzgeralds’ Beaverton house into a festive paradise, complete with Santas, otters, the Grinch, and other figures from Star Wars.
According to Colin, we began to get visitors who would return year after year to appreciate the lights and express their gratitude to us. For them, it became a custom, which was quite meaningful to us.
When the Fitzgeralds moved from Hillsboro to Beaverton six years ago, they took that tradition with them.
“It’s a little crazy, but we just carried it on when we moved here,” he said. However, it’s also a lot of fun.
Over 100,000 lights and a variety of decorations are included in the display, and there are yet more to come.
Beaverton’s Christmas light show on December 20, 2024, featuring the Fitzgerald family.OregonLive/The Oregonian | Teresa Mahoney
Beaverton’s Christmas light show on December 20, 2024, featuring the Fitzgerald family.OregonLive/The Oregonian | Teresa Mahoney
Beaverton’s Christmas light show on December 20, 2024, featuring the Fitzgerald family.OregonLive/The Oregonian | Teresa Mahoney
Colin claims that in order to keep the exhibit looking new, he makes minor aesthetic adjustments every year.
There are a few items I don’t release every year, so it changes from year to year, he explained. I go through in rotation.
In September, the Fitzgeralds start preparing for the holidays.
Additionally, they gather items for Red Tricycle Brigade, a charitable organization that donates toys to Randall Children’s Hospital patients.
People would frequently stop by and ask how we could help when we lived in Hillsboro. Can we make a financial contribution? “Katherine said.” Do you have a donation of any kind? And we didn’t. We found out that there would be a visit from a family down the street. When the youngster was three years old, they lost him. Henry was his name. Together with another family, [the family] began gathering toys and formed the Red Tricycle Brigade.
“Can we help out?” we asked. because someone is coming to visit us. We put out the poster, began gathering toys, and things took off from there.
With a scavenger hunt accessible through a QR code, the Christmas show is intended to be participatory. For younger guests, second-grade teacher Katherine wanted to add something interesting and instructive.
A few commonly asked questions are also addressed by the QR code, such as how long does it take to post everything? Additionally, where do you keep everything?
Naturally, one of the most common inquiries is how much it costs to maintain the display’s illumination.
“Priceless,” Colin said.
Fitzgerald Christmas Lights: 17566 S.W. Albert Court, Beaverton; daily from 5 to 10 p.m. until December 31.
Other displays of holiday lights
There are several holiday decorations in the neighborhood, but Peacock Lane in Southeast Portland is the most well-known and arguably the oldest. Exquisite displays can be found in local communities throughout the metropolitan area.
A Christmastime walk down Peacock Lane in Southeast Portland, December 16, 2021. The Oregonian/Beth Nakamura
Until December 31, Peacock Lane is open every day from 6 to 11 p.m. As long as supplies last, hot chocolate and cider are served every night.
Fifty thousand lights are synchronized to holiday music at Schilling Lights on Larkin Milwaukie.
Schilling Lights is open every night from 5 to 10 p.m. until December 25 at 15909 S.E. Lark Ave. in Milwaukie. Dec. 26 marks the start of the New Year’s light spectacular. Requests for songs are accepted through January 12.
Through January 5, the Oregon Zoo’s famous light show, Zoo Lights, will be on display. It includes hundreds of lights and occasionally drowsy zoo animals.
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