SIOUX CITY — One Sioux City couple wants to spread Christmas cheer around their North end neighborhood and beyond.
John and Stacy Hegarty's three-story home at 3612 Jackson St. is outlined in twinkling lights. Icicle lights hang from the porch ceiling. Lights are colorfully stretched over a large bush near the front porch. More lights drape over railings and across the front yard.
"I actually grew up in this house since I was 10 years old and then I purchased the house about 10 years ago from my parents, Terry and Paula Hegarty," John said.
"When we were young, mom and dad always did a little bit of decorations but nothing extravagant. As me and my wife have been in the house, we both have been under the same understanding that we really love doing the decorations and it brings us happiness so we both have continued to build up every year to put more and more stuff up," he said.
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Christmas lights twinkle in the front yard of the John Hegarty residence, 3612 Jackson St. in Sioux City on Tuesday. Hegarty said he lost count of the number of the lights he puts up each year.
Wreaths hang from the second-story windows. Pine garlands are strung on the porch railing.
A huge inflatable snowman is posted at the corner of the home. Reindeer of gold stand in the front yard waiting for their Christmas Eve mission.
There is also a signpost counting down the days until Santa’s Christmas Eve trip to deliver gifts to children around the world.
John credits his wife for the design scheme.
"That is my wife’s brilliance. She is the creative one. She is the one that is able to look at things. She is the designer of it all," he said.
The exact light count is a mystery.
"We have no idea. The count just got really ridiculous."
The couple likes to drive around Sioux City looking at other Christmas light displays too.
"That first year we just put up a little bit of lights and enjoyed it. And at the end of the year, she was looking at the sales and stuff. So, we were able to find some pretty good sales at the end of the year," John said.
Not only does Stacy take inspiration from other light displays around Siouxland but social media posts as well.
"She gets inspired. She creates the design. We continue to pick a couple things every year that we want to add. It makes it manageable to do a little bit more every year."
Christmas lights twinkle in the front yard of the John Hegarty residence, 3612 Jackson St. in Sioux City on Tuesday.
As they have added elements to the display each year, the set-up gets a little more complicated.
"This year it took us about two weeks to do. We did a little bit at night and then a couple of weekends. It took roughly about two weeks this year to do everything," John said.
But the response they get from Siouxlanders is worth it.
"My favorite part is the enjoyment that it brings. The entire ambience. We really enjoy seeing the cars come through and people get out and take pictures. It’s neat to be able to give away that spirit of Christmas," he said. "We look forward to adding more stuff every year."
