Plenty of folks in our community may know David Pitts, a lifelong Cherokee County resident, and Mark Lallathin, a 15-year transplant from Ohio. What they may not know is that these two business owners are responsible for the biggest holiday light shows in Cherokee County - at Hobgood Park in Woodstock and Veterans Park in Canton - and have expanded to Ellijay and Rome.
David and Mark, owners of Holiday Lights of Georgia, have spent countless hours untangling thousands of light strands, building and painting dozens of displays and setting them up for local and not-so-local folks to enjoy on their seasonal pilgrimage to see the lights.
“From a single strand of lights, we now have over 10 million lights spread out in four shows,” Mark said. “Each show boasts more than 2 million lights, lighted tunnels, numerous trees and much more.”
Shedding Light on the Beginning
David and Mark were busy with career pursuits -- David as a vice president at Georgia Power and Mark as a vice president in the athletic footwear industry -- when the idea of starting a lighting company fell into their laps.
In 2012, David was a member of the board of directors for the Anna Crawford Children’s Center. To raise funds, the board created a holiday light show at Hobgood Park and charged admission. Each year the attraction grew, and it became so popular after five years that the board could no longer manage it.
Mark entered the picture after the first two years of the show. He was running the track at Hobgood Park when the volunteers were setting up the lights, and he stopped to ask if he could help.
Not only did he jump in and help, Mark joined the board with David. Word of their work got around, and the Cherokee County Recreation and Parks Agency approached them about creating a new show at Veterans Park. Their mutual interest in supporting the community turned into a business partnership: they started 112 Events in 2016. Not long after, Cherokee County Recreation and Parks officials asked them to create another light show at Veterans Park.
“The first show was born out of a need to fundraise and the second show was added because the first did so well,” David said. The business was renamed Holiday Lights of Georgia, and two shows in Rome and one in Ellijay have been added this season.
Lights, Camera, Action!
With tens of thousands of visitors each year, David and Mark are intentional about creating new displays, moving and expanding them so there’s always something new or different to enjoy.
The entry tunnel at Hobgood Park has 1.8 miles of lights or more than 38,000 bulbs; the walking maze at Hobgood Park has more than a mile of lights. The roundabout tree at Veterans Park has more than 10,000 digital lights that have endless possibilities of graphics and digital designs. At Hobgood Park, 100 live trees are available for members of the community to decorate; for $100, the power is provided and each person’s creativity is the only limit.
While the business seems seasonal, it keeps them busy throughout the year. January is spent tearing down the displays. In February, David and Mark attend and catch up with colleagues at the largest annual convention held in St. Louis for Halloween and Christmas shows. March, April and May are spent meeting and planning, with construction starting in June and continuing until the displays are set in place starting in October. A seasonal crew is hired to help with construction, but more often than not, passersby who see the activity end up being part of a volunteer crew.
It’s About the Community
While the shows bring joy to visitors of all ages, David and Mark delight in the roles they play in the lives of the people who visit. Their hours of hard work are rewarded when they hear laughter from the children lost in the maze, their anticipation as they search for the new displays. And, of course, the visit with Santa is the ultimate.
The displays often are the background for marriage proposals, spontaneous and planned. Last year someone asked if they could come to the park after closing and propose inside the lighted tunnel, with family members hidden and watching.
“In the early years, we had a big carriage that seemed to be a magnet for people to propose on,” David said. “We have had 12-15 proposals that we know about. Some of the couples come back years later with toddlers in tow.”
Their company provides lights for Night to Shine, the prom-night experience sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, as well as weddings and other special events. They’re even headed for the big screen; their handiwork can be seen in the movie “Dear Santa” (no release date announced yet). Watch for the holiday lights and decorations in the village scenes.
If you haven’t met David and Mark, now that their faces have graced the cover of this magazine, you can be on the lookout for them. Thank them for their hard work. And don’t forget to ask, “What’s new this year?”
Mark Your Calendars!
Hobgood Park, celebrating 13 years.
11/29 - 12/30, closed on Christmas.
Admission: $10 for adults; children ages 12 and younger are free. Proceeds go to the Anna Crawford Children’s Center.
Veterans Park, celebrating 8 years.
11/23 - 12/31, open every night.
5K race, 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 23 kicks off the season.
Admission: $20 per car. Proceeds go to various nonprofits including Speed for Need.
“Each show boasts more than 2 million lights, lighted tunnels, numerous trees and much more.”
“In the early years, we had a big carriage that seemed to be a magnet for people to propose on,” David said. “We have had 12-15 proposals that we know about. Some of the couples come back years later with toddlers in tow.”