Star Wars inspired holiday light display draws large crowd
NEWARK, Calif. (KGO) -- A Bay Area family's holiday display has drawn thousands of visitors in person and received millions of views on YouTube.
This display is not just a spectacle, it's also helping raise money for the poor.
Some people showed up early to get a parking spot in the front row.
The display uses more than 100,000 lights and what makes it so popular is the lights are timed to go along with Star Wars music.
The YouTube video has already generated over 3 million hits since it was posted just five days ago.
Tom BetGeorge who is also a music teacher spent eight months building the display and choreographing the lights with the music.
The layout includes a 19-foot piano, a 17-foot guitar and light beams on the roof. "I actually enjoy watching it too. I spent a lot of time on it because basically what you see is like what's going on inside my mind when I hear music and I wanted to share that with everyone else," he said.
BetGeorge says since the video went viral, the crowds have grown. He estimates about 3,000 people came out Saturday night.
The show runs every night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the corner of Lafayette and Ruschin in Newark.
There's a jar in the driveway where spectators can make donations. BetGeorge says all the money is going to help the homeless.
He raises about 1,500 every night and hopes to collect more than $10,000 in donations by Christmas.
Send your holiday light display photos to uReport@kgo-tv.com!
