The lights will go dark, but the memories will remain at Severson’s light display
Published 10:40 am Friday, December 12, 2014
Karen Severson is backed by an entire yard of lights, part of the vast Christmas lights show the family has been running for years south of Hayfield. — Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
A 16-year tradition is coming to a close with a bright finale.
The Severson’s light display in Hayfield is seeing it’s final year, but this year is a little more special than most. This year, it is in honor of Calmer Severson, who passed away in September after being diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer.
“One of his final wishes was he wanted to see the light display go up one more year,” said Theresa Severson, daughter of Calmer and his wife, Karen.
A car stops to watch the musically-synced Christmas light show at the Severson farm south of Hayfield Thursday night.
The display’s last year was supposed to be in 2013, but Karen said her husband didn’t want to see the lights go down just yet.
“He loved to see the little kids out dancing with their mothers and dads,” Karen said.
So Karen and Theresa got a group of family and friends together to host the lights show one last time. The lights are lined up to create a drive-thru for people to stop and marvel at the displays, laugh at the singing snowman who matches the radio station they’ve tuned in their car, and smile at the dancing trees.
Blue lights from the Merry Christmas sign color the hoarfrost covered branches hanging above it at the Severson farm south of Hayfield.
Mother Nature wasn’t very kind to the set-up crew in the fall, as there was much snow, wind and rain during the six weeks it took to pull together the lights. And although the set-up went a little slower this year, the group wasn’t thwarted.
“Remember, the majority of it is put up by two old ladies,” Theresa laughed.
Regardless of the work and time, it has been worth it every year, according to the family, and this year was no exception.
“I think [dad] would be very happy that we got it up; he would be very honored,” Theresa said. “And the amount of cars that are coming through, it would just amaze him.”
The first drive-thru was in 2002, but that’s not where this Christmas display started.
“Dad started decorating with one little bush in front of the house,” Theresa said.
After that, the display started to grow, getting bigger and better every year. Lights accumulated over the years, displays and dancing trees were added, along with a radio station and, well, more lights. But it’s not the displays that bring out the magic at the country home.
“You look out and it is pretty; it is pretty,” Karen said. “But just to see the sparkle in kids’ eyes, it’s amazing.”
Over the years, three couples have become engaged at the display, and many have made this part of their family tradition, coming out for Thanksgiving on opening night, Christmas or somewhere in between.
“A lot of people, this is their holiday tradition to come out,” Karen said.
An average night sees 150 to 200 vehicles drive through the display, but some nights are busier. Last Saturday alone had about 650 vehicles, and the week of Christmas usually has 350 to 400 vehicles on any given night.
It’s free to drive through the display, but the family takes a donations. They started taking donations in 2008 to help the community purchase a new ambulance. Karen said everything that goes into the collection barrel goes toward that project, with none of it taken in by the family.
Community members have expressed their disappointment that the lights will soon go dark, but the displays take a lot of work and time, and Karen and Theresa simply can’t make it happen anymore.
“We honestly have enjoyed doing it,” Theresa said. “I’ll be sad to see it go. It meant a lot to my dad so I’ll really be sad to see it go. It was a part of him that you kind of just don’t want to give up.”
The lights will be sold after this year. The women don’t want to see them get old and useless, and they have hopes that they will continue to be displayed after this year. The biggest hope is that someone will fill the darkness left by the end of the era.
“I would love to have somebody continue it on, and I would love to have it stay in the area so you could go look at it and see how they’ve added to it or how they’ve changed it,” Theresa said.
Christmas lights brighten the yard of the Severson family as a van of visitors drives through to see the musically synced show just outside of Hayfield.
The community will hold a fireworks show at 7 p.m. Dec. 27 to recognize the Seversons for their hard work in bringing the lights to the dark country road. The Seversons are grateful for a community that has cared about and appreciated their hard work and are glad that Calmer will be recognized for the joy he brought to people through his lights.
“I’m very proud of our community that they wanted to do this for us,” Karen said.
“It’s humbling,” Theresa added. “You know, we were doing this … because dad loved to put up the Christmas lights and watch the people enjoy the lights.”
Vehicles will be parked along the road and in the field, and people will remain in their cars to watch the fireworks that will shoot off in the woods behind the Severson’s house. It will be a bright end to a tradition that brought light into people’s hearts.
WHEN: The Severson’s display is lit every night from 5 to 10:30 p.m. through New Year’s Eve.
WHERE: The lights can be found at 21366 740th St., about one mile south and 2.5 miles east of Hayfield.
COST: Free; donations go to Hayfield Area Ambulance.
