Illuminated Round Rock Holiday Display Shines Light On Dog Rescue

ROUND ROCK, TX — Each year around this time, in cities and towns across the country, someone embarks on assembling a truly epic holiday lights display designed not only to personally celebrate the magic of the season but to delight neighbors and passersby.

You know the house, and you know that homeowner. It's invariably spectacular to watch. There is such a house in Round Rock too, but this one's just a little bit more special.

Cole Gedwillo, 16, has spent his recent evenings doggedly tinkering with some 50,000 Christmas lights for his annual display while coordinating an accompanying soundtrack featuring more than 10 different holiday songs to coordinate with the lights display. As KXAN reported, Gedwillo family handed over the annual lighting responsibilities to the teen five years ago.

Here's where the extra special part comes in. Gedwillo has poured out his lighted artistic expression for the past two years to solicit donations to his pet cause: Helping Hands Basset Rescue, a local canine rescue organization for which he's long volunteered.

The group has publicly thanked the young man for his efforts, posting photos on social media not only of the spectacular lights display but of some of those lovable Basset hounds his efforts help rescue.

Yet Gedwillo doesn't limit his altruism to canine residents but does it all for the humans too: “For some families, that’s what they need to get their holidays going is just something like this,” Gedwillo told KXAN. “To make them smile, and that’s what I do it for.”

You can watch Gedwillo's lights display at 3430 Sandy Koufax Lane from 5:15 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on weekdays and 5:15 p.m. to 11:30 p.m on weekends.

>>> See more at KXAN

Photo by Joshua Rodriguez on Unsplash