BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV) - 'Tis the season of spreading Christmas cheer — whether it's through baking cookies, singing carols or hosting festive parties, but for one family in Beaufort, their way of spreading joy comes in the form of tens of thousands of twinkling Christmas lights, lighting up the night for all to see.
The Cadd family on Lady's Island has been hosting their annual Christmas light display for close to 19 years. What started as a simple idea has now become a beloved tradition in the community.
David Cadd, a holiday enthusiast, said it all began when he and his wife moved to Beaufort and noticed a lack of holiday activities on the north side of the Broad River.
“When we were kids, we used to do this all the time,” said Cadd. "Go around, drive around. You know, we always wanted to see the house with the Christmas lights on when we drove around here. You really didn't see that. So we’re like, you know what? That’s our calling. We always want to give back to the community. So, we started doing a Christmas light display for everybody to come see.”
And that's exactly what they did – transforming their home into a Christmas wonderland year after year.
Each year, the display grows, with new lights and holiday figures added to the collection. It’s a labor of love for the Cadd family, but David admitted that it doesn’t come without its costs.
“Electricity is always the biggest question. People ask us, ‘How much is your electric bill?’ So, for about 30 days, it costs us an extra $350 in electricity to run this.”
But despite the hefty price tag, the Cadd family has never asked for anything in return. They are committed to making this holiday tradition completely free for the community.
“People ask us for donations, ‘What do you want?’ And they leave money in our mailbox,” said Cadd. “We’re like, no, we don’t want donations. This is for the community. It’s completely free for everybody, and we just want them to come out and enjoy themselves.”
David and his wife have a simple message for anyone who wants to give back: donate to local charities instead.
“That’s what we want... to give back to the community. This is our way. If you enjoy it and you want to donate to Toys for Tots or something in the community, give back. So, everybody can have a great holiday season.”
The Cadd family’s light show is on every night through December 27th, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The display is free. For more information, you can go to The Cadd Family 2024 Holiday Light Display Facebook page