On a quiet southwest Fort Wayne road, one house is making it “rein” with holiday lights. That home belongs to I&M fleet technician-A, Kurt Girardot – who loves his holiday lights a “whole-watt.”
“My family and I have been creating holiday displays like this for years,” Girardot said. “While growing up, my father, brother and I helped our neighbor with their display and it became a tradition in our homes.”
Girardot will have 12,600 pixels this year shining merry and bright. Compared to LED lights that change by the whole strand – pixels allow each individual light to change by itself. Preparation for display started in October.
“At I&M, we have a strong focus on safety, and I bring that home each day. I also keep safety at the forefront when it comes to creating this display,” Girardot said. “We always have someone watching when a ladder is in use, make sure we properly use extension cords and wear the right personal protection equipment. This year, we added another level of safety. I buried ethernet cables from the house to the shop to prevent a tripping hazard and damage to the cables themselves.”
Beyond the electric glow of the lights and holiday tunes, the true meaning of the holiday season for the Girardot family is found.
“With all the people coming to see the light displays, my brother and I decided to use our hobby to bring goodwill to our community,” Girardot said. “I’m extremely passionate about helping our area’s charities. We will be collecting socks for a number of Fort Wayne non-profits, including Invisible Vets, Rescue Mission, Shepherd’s House and Clothes for Joe’s.”
Socks are the most-needed but least donated items at shelters. Girardot has collected socks and monetary donations for several years. Last year, he donated more than 600 pairs of socks for Invisible Vets. This year, he wants to collect as many socks as he can -- with your help.
“I would love to see everyone come out, support our community and enjoy the display,” Girardot said. “This is what the holiday season is about. Enjoying time with loved ones, making memories and helping those who need it most -- without asking for anything in return.”
Girardot also named his elaborate display “Pixel Perfect Light Show” and created this Facebook page. New this year, he has a Venmo QR code so people can donate money and the Girardot family will purchase socks for charity.
If you would like to view the display in person and make a donation, his address is 9219 Old Lower Huntington Road, Fort Wayne. The lights will be flipped on every day from 5:30-11 p.m.