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Cade Family Celebrates 20th Year Of Holiday Light Display

In 1997, Sally Cade had a request for her husband, Charles.

“I wanted a few lights,” Sally, 76, recalled. Charles put white string lights around the cables on their yard and the front gate.

“It looked like a used car sale,” Charles, 79, said. “It wasn’t pretty, I can tell you that.”

Twenty years later, it resembles a winter wonderland with more than 200,000 lights. Charles says they wrapped 200 trees and placed more than 300 figures on their yard over a six-week period.

Though many of those decorations are purchased and some are donated, Charles made most of the wooden figures in 1998.

“I taught industrial arts at a school in Miami,” Charles said. “I made the deer, the snowman family.”

Visitors of all ages enjoy the holiday display. Jody Lott brings his family by the Cade home every year.

“It's really peaceful,” Lott said. “It takes your mind off things and you get to go out and spend time with your family.”

He plans on bringing his family here another five times or so before the end of the year.

"I love it. I wouldn't ask for no better place to be out in the country, with all of the lights,” Lott said.

It’s people like Lott that make the Cade’s effort worth it.

“I love seeing the people, seeing the joy on the kids of all ages,” Charles said.

“You see nothing but smiles here and that makes us all happy,” Sally added.

Last year, the Cade’s guestbook recorded 12,345 people visiting their light display. The couple is expecting a similar crowd this year.

The Cade Family Light display is located at 23373 N.E. 112th Court in Orange Springs. Sally and Charles are welcoming visitors from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night until New Years Day.

Grace is a reporter for WUFT News who may be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing grace.king@ufl.edu.