CORRIGANVILLE — Scott Pennington was concerned that after he took some time off from working on his nationally award-winning Christmas display, folks wouldn’t return to see what he created this year.
But his light show is up and running with a steady stream of visitors stopping outside his Corriganville home to see the latest holiday magic.
“I kind of put it together at the last minute,” Pennington said. “But we’ve had good weather … and a good turnout.”
National competition
In 2019, Pennington was filmed for ABC’s “Great Christmas Light Fight.”
The following year, the show announced he won the competition’s $50,000 grand prize.
“That was tough,” Pennington said of preparation for the show. “I was exhausted after 2019. I wanted everything perfect that year.”
He later developed knee problems.
“I was in no shape or form to do (the lights display) in 2021,” Pennington said.
This year, he bought a bucket truck to use on the display that lets him avoid climbing a ladder to reach places up to 30-feet high.
“That has helped me immensely,” Pennington said of the truck. “I should have bought one years ago.”
‘Motivates me’
Pennington typically creates a theme for the winter displays.
This year, however, his helper had to have surgery.
“My schedule was pretty full,” Pennington said. “It’s a lot of work.”
So he focused on fun and some new shapes for this year’s exhibit, which features new as well as classic characters, including Barbie and M&M’S.
“When you turn it on for the first time, you can have a million problems,” Pennington said. “I get a little tense before I fire it up … fingers crossed.”
He enjoys seeing the community’s reaction to the lights show.
“That motivates me,” Pennington said.
“I was worried people would have forgotten about me,” he said.
“But everybody’s been very supportive and positive,” Pennington said. “I just appreciate the people coming and seeing it. It’s made my Christmas.”