Festival Props Team Celebrates 20th Annual Holiday Light Display

Festival husband and wife duo Ben Hohman and Marielle Boneau celebrate the 20th anniversary of their popular holiday display this year. For two decades Properties Director Hohman and Assistant Properties Director Boneau have decorated their house at 26 North 1150 West in Cedar City. The display lights up every night from 5:30-10 pm and will run until December 31st, weather permitting. 

The Display

Not only do they love to share the joy of the season with the community but the display has raised over $36,000 for Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Utah in the 19 years it’s been running. In addition to receiving donations from the community, the couple also donates the value of their December power bill to the organization. 

And, as you would imagine, a lot of power is needed. They had an extra 120 amps of electricity installed in the back of the house just for the Christmas lights, which is four times the amount used inside. 

2,000 more lights have been added this year, bringing the total to around 70,000 lights, which are choreographed to dance with 20 Christmas songs. The display also includes 79 plastic blow-molds, 51 lighted wire-frame sculptures, 60 inflatables, and a homemade nine-foot wreath.

Visitors can walk down Candy Cane Lane, taking in the light display in both the front and back yards. The display includes Santa’s Flight School, where reindeer are learning to fly, the Christmas Zoo, Winter Disco Land, Santa’s Workshop, Gingerbread Land, and more. 

The Beginning 

Nearly twenty years ago Hohman had the idea to collect donations. Each year he helps with the Make-A-Wish Christmas party and is a trained Wish Granter, so his involvement with the organization goes back a long time.

That first year they were encouraged to become more involved with the organization after their friend Heather was impressed with their decorating, and so the couple decided to start collecting donations at their light display.

The “Why” 

When asked why the couple continues to put in over 700 hours each season to put up and take down the display, Hohman and Boneau said they do it for the community. 

“The community loves it,” Boneau said. “It’s become a tradition for a lot of families in town and is included on the community list of lights displays not to be missed.”

“It started small, but grew quickly,” Hohman explained. “I tell everyone that I do it for Make-A-Wish and the children, but anyone who knows me, knows I do it because I enjoy it. I love the holidays.” 

Boneau joked that because the display is for a good cause, it “legitimizes his Christmas craziness.” She comments, “Call it ‘crazy;’ we call it ‘passionate Christmas cheer!’” Either way, the Utah Shakespeare Festival is proud that this Props team continues to go above and beyond with the display.

Donations can be made at the display or at their website. While on this page, check out video footage of the past 15 years of the display. Donations are also accepted through Venmo using @benslightdisplay.