3 days Ago
LIVERMORE, Calif. — The wait can be long — sometimes it can be two hours. However, no one seems disappointed by that.
What they see is often jaw-dropping. “Through the roof, this place blows it away," said Emily Silva, who was with her father. She is referring to the display at Deacon Dave Rezendes' house in Livermore.
For 41 years, he and a team of volunteers have decorated his house for the holidays. It's a remarkable display featuring over 900,000 lights. “The other night, two ladies were coming through and said, 'You know, we are not necessarily religious people, but there’s something very special here,'" Rezendes said.
He is connected to a local Catholic parish in Livermore, so many decorations are focused on the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus. However, Rezendes' house has become a holiday destination for many in town. It is mostly due to his preservation of the house.
It has been in his family for four generations, and he has held on to decorations passed down from his ancestors. Inside his house is over a dozen trees, all uniquely themed and many decorated with decades-old ornaments. "This one is special," he said, gesturing to a pink and white tree.
"I haven’t used these ornaments in a very long time. They were my grandmother's ornaments." His has a tree in almost everyone room.
The one in his library is two stories tall. The public cannot go inside his home, but the outside display of lights is enough for everyone to wait and enjoy. "I think it is in search of the spirit of Christmas, I believe," Rezendez said.
Every tree has a light on it. There is a special wishing pond for "Christmas wishes" and a bridge in the front yard named the "proposal bridge," where 83 different couples have popped the question. It's a place people go to make holiday memories.
“We take those times to really enjoy it," said Jeff Silva, Emily's father. "We want to be a part of it and have those memories.” Admission is free, but Rezendes does welcome donations.
All he asks is for people to leave with holiday joy in their hearts..
