The holidays mean many things to many people—family gatherings, festive parties, delicious food and drink, and, of course, giving. But “giving back” can take many forms. For some, it’s donating warm clothing or pantry items to those in need. For others, it’s volunteering time, sharing kindness, or finding joy in the simple act of giving. Sometimes, the greatest holiday joy comes from small, luminous moments, like seeing a neighborhood sparkle with twinkling lights.
For Bruce Raggi of Farmington and Rob Flynn of Henrietta, it started with a few simple strings of lights. Over time, those lights became something much more—a gift of color, music, and community that now draws crowds each year to their neighborhoods to partake in the festive cheer and generosity of spirit.
The Raggi Christmas Light Show
For Raggi, it all started roughly 16 years ago when his daughter and son-in-law came home for Christmas and bought a plug-and-play four-strand light that synced to music. While Raggi decided to put it up that first year, it wasn’t until the following year that he deep-dove into the world of holiday light technology, purchasing controllers that allowed him to begin building a display that would soon become renowned as the “Raggi Christmas Light Show” on Buckskin Drive, complete with a Facebook following and annual fundraiser.
“I really got into it,” Raggi explains. “I’m an electrician by trade, so I like to do stuff like this.” He soon bought FM machines so people driving by could turn to a radio station and hear the music synced to the lights.
The year after that, the light display grew into his neighbor’s yard, and the fourth year they got antennas so they could bump the signal across and down the street. “Everyone wanted to get into it,” he says. Currently, Raggi says there’s about 26 houses involved. He’s built stars and arches, creating new layouts year after year.
Every year, he rents a lift, and, along with six helpers, they spend the weekend lighting up the yards of everyone who wants to participate. In 2014, when Rochester Officer Daryl Pierce was killed in the line of duty, Raggi and his family decided to start asking for donations to raise money for the family. For several years, they continued to raise money for different causes, finally settling on the John Russo Memorial Foundation for the past few seasons.
Starting on Thanksgiving night, the neighborhood light show begins, running until New Year’s Day. Many nights, they hand out candy canes and take donations. On weekends, their neighbor Scott McLean plays “the best Santa Clause you’ve ever seen,” Raggi says. “When we post it on Facebook, we have cars backed up a mile down the road.”
Raggi’s kids like to joke that he spends more time outside in the winter than in the summer. But for him, the light show has become a beloved family tradition, one that brings joy not only to visitors, but to everyone who helps make it happen. Each season, the family gathers to hand out candy canes. When it’s really cold, they set up a heated tent and cook hot dogs. “I always tell my kids this,” Raggi says. “When I was young, I was a bad boy. Now I try to do good things and make sure I leave here going the right way. I just like giving to people and helping people.”
Colony Lane Circle of Lights
Like Raggi, Flynn’s decorating origins began modestly. But a tradition evolved when the neighbors from their cul-de-sac got involved, turning it into a competition of “crazy light displays.” At that time, “you couldn’t even turn on a hair dryer at night without blowing a fuse,” he says.
One summer, the cul-de-sac gathered for a family picnic and began talking about their growing holiday tradition. That conversation sparked the idea to decorate the entire circle together. Just like that, the Colony Lane Circle of Lights was born. A neighbor volunteered to play Santa, candy canes were handed out, and within a year or two, the display had a loyal following.
Flynn’s wife, Nancy Sullivan Flynn, later suggested they add a charitable element: a food drive for the Rush-Henrietta Area Food Terminal (RHAFT). What began with just 15 bags of food donations has grown into an effort that now collects up to 200 bags each year, along with monetary contributions for the local food cupboard. The event has taken on a life of its own, with friends dressing up as Mrs. Claus, Mickey and Minnie, Buzz Lightyear, and Woody. “That draws such a crowd. Kids love it,” says Flynn. “It’s become quite a destination, and a lot of family tradition.” Local Girl Scouts also volunteer, and kids often help out to earn community service hours.
Planning is all year round, Flynn explains. Every year they add something different, with this year’s newest addition being a matrix screen that will go up on the house. Now that technology has advanced and Flynn’s setup is computerized, they don’t need to worry about fuses blowing anymore. Starting on Thanksgiving night, they run the light show through the first or second week in January from 5–10 p.m. every night. On Christmas Eve, they put out close to 200 luminaries around the circle for a special holiday light show.
While it’s a drive-thru, visitors can park and get out to take pictures with Santa and the characters. “The most shocking part is when you realize the kids coming here are now bringing their kids. It’s just joyous seeing the kids and the fun all out there.” It’s also fun for the participating friends and neighbors, who often celebrate together after the light show is over with a shared meal.
A Tradition of Giving and Joy
Both Flynn and Raggi share a similar sentiment when it comes to their light displays and giving joy to the people who visit year after year. They also share a commitment to giving back, reflected in the donations their displays inspire each holiday season. “When you see the people coming, and the faces are all lit up, and the tradition that we started, we have to keep going,” Flynn says. “It’s about giving to the community and sharing the Christmas spirit.”