If you have time and enjoy exuberant light shows, head to Tracy!
Tom BetGeorge begins planning for his Christmas light show usually after the first of the year, where he plans for the show between January and April, then begins ordering materials in May.
By June, he’s constructing his props. And in August, setup begins. Roughly 50,000 lights later and the lights turn on.
“I do this for the community,” Tom told ABC10. “There are a lot of families that can't afford to go to Disneyland for example, so this is my way of providing a ‘magical’ experience for free!”
Tom doesn’t do this just for the legion of light fans, either. He noted he uses the display to “raise awareness for the homeless and less fortunate” in the Tracy area. A donation box is located just outside the house for the McHenry House, a homeless rehabilitation and shelter in Tracy.
Tom estimates he raises $1,000 a night in donations for the homeless shelter.
“I think it's very important that we think of those less fortunate than us, not just during the holidays, but all year round,” Tom said. “The display may be the seed to a lifetime of serving for people.”
If you want to check-out the Disneyland of Tracy, Tom’s display resides at 15 Phillips Court. The show typically runs from 6 - 8:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but Tom says, check his Facebook page in case of inclement weather.
“I run it minimally to keep traffic easy on the neighborhood,” Tom said.