Old Orchard Beach light display shines again this holiday season

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Elm Street Lights Christmas show is back this year and better than ever.

Mat Doughty said he had always wanted to be “that house” on the street – the one with the Christmas display that everyone stops to visit.

Last year, he and his partner, Jordan Cadorette, constructed a holiday light show with synchronized music on the lawn of their home at 3 Elm St. The light show ran nightly in December and early January, and drew many visitors and a loyal fan base.

This year, Elm Street Lights is back, with a few upgrades. Doughty and Cadorette worked non-stop on evenings and weekends for two weeks preparing the show for it’s debut the day after Thanksgiving.

“The show was born out of the 2020 pandemic, with the goal of bringing smiles, joy, and spreading holiday cheer during such uncertain times. So whether the times choose to stay uncertain or not, we will continue to make it our mission, and work to make a bigger & brighter display each year for people to come see,” said Doughty.

Some Fast Facts about Elm Street Lights:

-The light show runs from 4:30 to 9:00 nightly through the end of December. Park your car outside 3 Elm St. in Old Orchard Beach and listen to the music on 88.1 FM.

-The show is free, but donations are accepted, with a portion going to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital.

-This year, the playlist has increased from 12 songs to 13 songs.

-The number of lights has increased from 6,500 in the first year to nearly 16,000 this year. The amount of extension cords has increased from 1,900 feet to about 2,600 feet. “New electrical was run to ensure there would be no issues this year with power, as we have more than doubled the amount of lights on display,” said Doughty.

- The show kicks off with a welcome message from Cadorette and Doughty and an audio clip of Clark Griswold from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. After receiving feedback last year, Cadorette and Doughty added random times throughout the show where all lights will fully illuminate for short periods to allow for photos.

A close-up of some of the lights from the display. SBN STAFF/Emily Violette

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.