For the eighth year, a Texas Christmas light display is raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Created by Jordan Maywald, the Maywald Christmas Display showcases 300,000 lights.
Maywald puts the display up with his family and started decorating for this year in July, Fox 7 Austin reported.
The Maywald Christmas Display was up by Thanksgiving Day and features new parts this year.
Money can be donated when visiting the lights, which is then given to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Maywald Christmas Display raised $80,000 last year.
Maywald told Fox 7 Austin that the display is made with kids in mind.
“It’s for the kids and kids that are going through something that nobody should go through, much less a child. Just seeing them smile for a brief minute or two or a whole weekend on their trip is what it’s all about,” he said.
One of this year’s new features is a 15-foot snowman, Maywald said. He went to Pennsylvania in order to get this new addition.
“My mom and I actually flew up to Pennsylvania this past March and rented a truck and drove it all the way back to Texas,” 23-year-old Maywald told Fox 7 Austin. “I guess that’s commitment and it’s fun. We just love to do stuff like that.”
The stars in the display represent the total amount of wishes that have been funded by Maywald for the foundation. Twenty-seven wishes have been granted so far, Fox 7 Austin reported. There are also flying reindeer, representing last year’s granted wishes.
“After you’ve granted 27 wishes, I couldn’t find any more reindeer,” Maywald shared.
On average, it takes around $7,500 for a wish to be granted.
“When we grant a wish, we actually get to meet a lot of the kids which is really cool,” Maywald added.
Over seven years, the display has raised around $200,000, according to the website.
“Donating to Make-A-Wish fills our hearts with joy because we know the funds are going to a wonderful cause,” the website shares. “The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes for wish kids to let them go on a trip or get something special that means a lot to them.”
Maywald told Fox that he started his own lighting business this year for the holidays. Maywald, who attends Texas A&M University in College Station, also shared that he has been putting up his own Christmas light displays since he was 9.
He said creating light displays came from his love of building.
“I love to build stuff, and that’s a lot of the displays out here — is stuff that I’ve built because you won’t find it anywhere else,” Maywald told Fox.
The theme for the Maywald Christmas Display this year is “Believe,” according to the website.
The Maywald Christmas Display is located at 10505 Twilight Vista, Austin. The display can be visited until December 28, and it is open daily from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. except in the event of inclement weather. On-site parking is available for visitors.
There is no charge to visit, but donations are welcome. Parts of the building and display process are showcased on Maywald’s YouTube site.