SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Belardo Lights holiday light display in Tierrasanta is radiating holiday spirit for the 19th year.
“We enjoy it, but the community, they really give us a lot of positive comments in the guest book about how much it means to them,” said Randy Schimka, who calls himself the director of Christmas lighting operations for Belardo Lights.
Schimka said the tradition was inspired by his two sons, Brandon and Stephen. Now in their 20s, both were diagnosed with autism at age two. Stephen is non-verbal, while his brother faced behavioral challenges in his younger days.
“I noticed that when we would go drive around at Christmas time and we would look at lights I would notice that he would be calm, and he would be excited and happy,” said Schimka.
Over 100,000 lights at the family’s home are animated to music, which is also broadcast locally on FM 106.1. A rotating playlist features over 30 songs.
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