Massively Popular Dover, New Hampshire Christmas Light Display Canceled For 2021
Christmas may be a little less bright in Dover, New Hampshire, this year, as for the first time in 12 years, the organizers of Luke's Lights announced that they'll be taking a break from the display this year.
The display was started by a pre-teen back in 2009.
In what should easily make everyone ever feel like an absolute underachiever, the first year Luke's Lights graced Overlook Drive in Dover was back in 2009, when then-11-year-old Luke Dobson decided to go next-level with his family's Christmas display that year.
In a 2012 interview with WMUR, Luke said that the display is a bit easier to execute than it would first appear (outside of the actual task of hanging up the lights). He uses a computer program to sync music to the lights, and the program sends a signal command out to the lights, giving us the show that we've known and loved for over a decade.
It's unknown what brought the break on this year.
No reason was given for the break this year in the Facebook post or in the comments section, but what is known is the fact that the community (both in Dover and those who traveled from afar) have appreciated every bit of sweat equity and Christmas spirit that Luke has given over the last decade.
Luke decided to add a charitable aspect to it, putting a bin out in the driveway to collect food for St. Joseph's Church Food Pantry to raise money and food for his neighbors and community members in need.
The comments section is flooded with comments thanking Luke for spreading joy and also commending him on a well-deserved break. Once the light show started gaining serious traction in its infancy, Luke decided to add a charitable aspect to it, putting a bin out in the driveway to collect food for St. Joseph's Church Food Pantry to raise money and food for his neighbors and community members in need.
Last year, Luke helped raise well over 300 pounds of food and over $2,000 in donations.
We may not get to take in the amazingness of Luke's Lights this year, but it's pretty clear that Luke, now in his 20s, brought much more Christmas Spirit to the area than we may have ever realized. Here's hoping the lights make a return in 2022, but if not, we all owe Luke a massive thank you for the bright memories (pun intended) he selflessly gave us for 11 years.
Luke's Lights may have lit up Dover, but check out these entries in last year's Portsmouth Neighborhood Holiday Lights Contest
LOOK: See what Christmas was like the year you were born
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