‘I will miss the people.’ It’s the final season of Owens Lights, a popular display in Idaho Falls
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IDAHO FALLS — It’s the last season to watch amazing light displays at one home in Idaho Falls.
At 1385 Lowell Drive this Halloween, you’ll see sights like a skeleton jamming out to music, a singing pumpkin and a spooky tree.
Owens Lights has come back for its 17th year. People listen to Halloween music on the radio by tuning in to 90.9 FM while watching dancing lights from their vehicles.
The show is created through the use of over 130,000 red, green, and blue pixels.
“It’s free, wholesome family entertainment. You can bring your family out here and park in front of the house and let the kids enjoy the show. Of course, it’s not just kids; adults love to watch the show also,” said Larry Owens, the creator of Owens Lights.
The final season
This will be the final season due to health reasons.
“I have knee, back and shoulder problems, which is why I have to stop doing the show because it’s just too difficult getting down on the ground, pounding in stakes and climbing up the ladder,” Owens said.
He says this year’s playlist contains the best sequences from the past 17 years. He had so many favorite songs, he created two 30-minute shows for Halloween.
Show One plays on the odd days of the month, and Show Two plays on the even days of the month. It runs daily from 6:30 to 10 p.m., repeating throughout the evening, from now until Oct. 31. Click here for more details.
As Owens looks back at the years, he says he’s had a lot of fun putting the shows together and seeing how creative he can be. He doesn’t just do a Halloween show but has Veteran’s Day and Christmas shows.
“We’ve had Halloween and Christmas shows for 17 years. Three years ago, I started a Veteran’s Day show, very red, white and blue, patriotic songs,” he said. “I love my country. I served in the Air Force for 21 years, so I am a retired veteran.”
Creating the shows
Owens says he starts setting up the beginning of September for the Halloween show and starts it the second week of October.
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“Usually, it takes about five weeks to get everything set up. I have help, especially this year,” he said.
As for the songs, where he matches the dancing decorations outside of his home, it’s a year-long process.
“I have a program that was written specifically for programming lights. It’s like an Excel spreadsheet. So I will have time across the top and then down the left side are all of the elements in the show,” Owens said. “An element being a spider, a ghost, an arch, a tombstone. I go into the spreadsheet and I assign effects.”
He is working on Christmas music for the upcoming holiday season.
His favorite memories
Owens has fond memories of the shows throughout the years. There’s one person he thinks about who makes it hard to end the season.
“My favorite part is this little boy who lives down the street. He has nonverbal autism. He gets off the bus at 3:30. Every day, he comes down. He used to sit on the curb across the street and watch me,” Owens said. “Now, he is very careful. He doesn’t trip on the wires, he doesn’t touch anything, but he wanders around the yard and looks at everything.”
Owens said the boy has learned two words.
“The first word that he learned to say was ‘Halloween’ and the second word he learned to say was ‘Christmas,'” Owens said, smiling.
“He is going to be disappointed more than anybody else. Every fall, this is his thing,” Owens added about the final season.
Owens will miss others in the community too.
“I will miss the people that come to see the show. My neighbors probably won’t miss it, though,” he said, laughing. “Because the traffic gets pretty bad!”
Owens has enjoyed sitting outside of his house and watching what he has created. He’s watched the shows a number of times, making sure it’s all working properly.
The upcoming shows and a thank you
Owens expressed his appreciation to the community for their support over the years. It’s been a fun hobby and tradition. He knows people are sad that it will be ending.
“I want them to know that I am sorry that I am not physically able to continue doing it, but I hope that they enjoyed it. I have a website. They can always look back at the videos on the website,” he said.
Click here for his website.
After the Halloween show, you’ll be able to see two more Owens Lights displays for its final season:
- Veteran’s Day: Nov. 9 to Nov. 11
- Christmas: Nov. 24 to Dec. 31
Owens invites anyone to come out and see the shows while they still can.
He said he’s looking forward to Christmas.
“Remember to keep Christ in Christmas and Jesus is the reason for the season. So don’t forget that, and that has been my purpose for the show for 17 years … to remind people of why we are celebrating this holiday,” Owens said.