Holiday Light Display In Severn Orchestrated By 18-Year-Old

SEVERN, MD — When Joey Lupo was a young boy, his parents strung white lights across the bushes in their yard and adorned the two small trees out front. But for whatever reason, that just wasn't enough for young Joey, so he decided to create holiday displays himself.

Now, as an 18-year-old student at the University of Maryland College Park, he channels his inner Clark Griswold and brightens up his family's home at 8126 Quarterfield Farms Drive complete with lights paired to music.

"Something eventually urged me to add more. It started with lights on our front tree and a three-foot-tall lighted snowman, and has ballooned into what it is today. I pay for all the decorations myself and put everything up mostly on my own, with the exception of a few of my friends that I hire to help me out. One of my favorite days of the Christmas season is Dec. 26, because my mom and I visit all the stores and buy all the discounted decorations for next year," Lupo told Patch.

Decorating for the holidays this year proved to be a bit challenging, since Lupo is now a college student away from home. But he didn't let that get in his way.

"I had to find time to come home from college to decorate. This year, it took me around 6 and a half days. I am always finished by Thanksgiving night because that is when we hold our annual lighting that draws around 60 people every year. I am often working to finish on Thanksgiving morning only minutes until my family arrives for Thanksgiving dinner," Lupo said.

Lupo also syncs music to the lights in the archways that stretch across the sidewalk.

"I encourage individuals to walk through the sidewalk under the archways. The kids love it," he said.

Lupo's lights are on from 5 to 11 p.m. The music plays from 5 to 9:30 p.m. If it rains, not every section of the display will be illuminated.