TOLEDO, Ohio — Nowadays it seems the Christmas decorations come earlier and earlier every year.
For one east Toledo block on Nevada Street, eight houses already have their lights up. It's part of an annual display called Lighting Up Nevada Street, created by Jason Kendall.
Kendall said he started this tradition four years ago after he lost a favorite neighbor from his childhood who enjoyed doing these types of outdoor displays.
In honor of him, he began asking his neighbors to let him decorate their houses for the holidays. Since it's just him doing most of the work, he has to start very early, two weeks into September. He understands how those who drive by could be confused.
"They are Christmas lights, but they are synced to Halloween music for the time being," Kendall said. "Then come November, we'll change it over to our Christmas show and have our Christmas props and everything for it."
On the street, especially during the daylight hours, the houses do stick out in comparison to their spooky neighbors. Kendall's goal this year is 100,000 lights covering all the homes.
"I love lights in general and there's nothing on the east side that has anything like this," Kendall said. "To go to the zoo and pay for lights, some of these people in the neighborhood cannot afford it."
He said any and everybody is welcome to walk or drive along Nevada Street between Thurston Street and Dover Place to catch the light show once it's completed.
One of the neighbors and light display supporters is Rebecca Garcia. She loves the entire idea and has been on board since the beginning.
"I'm sitting on my porch and I'm like, 'This reminds me of something that you see in one of the Hallmark or Lifetime movies,'" Garcia said. "You see all the families getting together with lights outside and it just brings so much happiness and joy."
Kendall said his goal is to light up every house on the block. No matter the number of participants, neighbors have only one job.
"They won't have to pay for anything except for their electric bill. I will provide the music boxes, the lights and everything. I will set it up for them," Kendall said.
He said last year more than 1,000 people stopped by to enjoy the display.
"It brings me joy and it keeps me wanting to do it and wanting to go further with it," Kendall said.
Since it's the second week in October, he said he still has a long way to go to get to his goal. There are hundreds of man-hours already spent and many, many more to go. But it's all for a good cause.
"This is like a dream come true. To have something on the east side of Toledo," Garcia said. "For someone to be able to come by and just turn the radio station on and be able to enjoy it for free."
She said once it's done everyone is invited.
"Get in the car, drive by at nighttime, turn on the radio station 98.5 and join the show," Garcia said.
Kendall said he is taking donations this year for Lighting Up Nevada Street. Light donations will be taken but they must be LED.
He said any monetary donations will be put towards buying more lights for next year. For more information about Lighting Up Nevada Street, click here.