Popular Madison Christmas display to be featured on TV in The Great Christmas Light Fight
A popular Madison Christmas light show has delighted passers-by for decades, and this year it will be seen in households across the nation.
The Indian Pines Lane Christmas Display caught the attention of reality show producers and will be featured in this year's television series The Great Christmas Light Fight.
"It turned out to be a great experience," said John Rowe about the filming, which took place in 2022. "It was an honor to be selected. Some of these displays are amazing."
Now in its 11th season, co-hosts Carter Oosterhouse and Taniya Nayak show off Christmas displays across the country. In each episode, four displays and the families behind them are featured. The best of the four wins $50,000 in each episode.
Family reluctant to appear on Great Christmas Light Fight
The opportunity to have your Christmas display on television and a chance at $50,000 may sound enticing to many, but the Rowes were reluctant about it.
"They had been calling us and asking us to do the show," said Sheri Rowe, John's wife. "We said, 'No, it's not really what we want.' I was afraid it would feel unreal."
John Rowe said the display started about 30 years ago when his daughters were very young. At the time it was more for the girls than anything and was much smaller than what people see today.
"Like so many others, it just grew and grew," John Rowe said. "It has around 200,000 lights.
"Now, we do it as a community service. Thousands and thousands of people come by every year."
Mississippi family decides to go for it
Although now grown, daughters Lindsey Rowe and Lauren Rowe-Hobbs continue to help with the display. As a family, they finally decided to apply to be on the show.
"We went through the applying process and made it through and they came last year," John Rowe said. "We were surprised we were selected and glad we did it."
Sheri Rowe said the experience wasn't what she expected.
"That production crew, those people were so awesome," she said. "We were all nervous about being on TV and what we would say, but they led us right through it.
"They were filming constantly and after a while you just kind of forgot they were there. In fact, we're out here putting up stuff and we miss them. It was a very sweet experience."
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How to watch the Rowes on The Great Christmas Light Fight
The Great Christmas Light Fight premieres on Nov. 26 at 9 p.m. Central Time on ABC. The episode that includes the Rowes airs Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. Central Time. Episodes are also streamed on Hulu.
How to apply to be on The Great Christmas Light Fight
If you'd like a shot at competing on The Great Christmas Light Fight, applications are accepted at https://lightfightcasting.com.
How to see the Indian Pines Lane Christmas Display in person
The display is a drive-by event located at 206 Indian Pines Lane in Madison. Display times are 5:30-11 nightly from December 2-30. Please check the Indian Pines Lane Christmas Display Facebook page for possible weather interruptions.
Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: The Great Christmas Light Fight to feature Madison, MS holiday display
