Mayes spreads holiday cheer with public light show
Caney Trails resident again turns property into Christmas wonderland for the benefit of SHARE
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Benjamin Sharp Jack and Barbra Mayes take a moment for a picture with their granddaughters in front of their "Seasons Greetings" sign, just one small facet of the extravagant holiday light show that's been set up in the yard of their Caney Trails residence. It took over seven weeks to design and create the animated show. Pictured, from left, are family pet Henry, Alexis Humphres, Barbra, Summer Humphres and Jack.

After weeks of back-breaking work and nights spent standing in the cold directing traffic, one would think Jack Mayes had his fill of Christmas last year.

The Caney Trails resident's animated holiday light show, offered free to the public seven days a week, was nothing less than a monumental undertaking. Mayes sacrificed vacation time, personal finances and even his own health to put on the dazzling show between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

And all he asked in return was that spectators made a donation to Wharton's SHARE.

When Mayes began flirting with the thought of repeating his show again this year, one would expect his wife, Barbra, to protest. But she encouraged it instead.

"I liked it. I had fun," she said.

With that kind of support in hand, Mayes jumped headfirst into his holiday presentation; only this time, everything had to be bigger and better.

This year's show will follow the same format as before, with Christmas lights on Mayes' 1203 Halfmoon Drive house and lawn blinking in pre-set patterns to the rhythm of classic holiday tunes.

The music is broadcast through an FM transmitter, allowing anyone in a close radius to hear it by setting their car radios to 94.9 FM.

Mayes has upped the ante on the show, adding, among other things, 800 brilliant commercial-grade LED lawn lights, a towering cross, a Santa and sleigh that's suspended above the ground, "falling" snowflakes and a new 10-foot Christmas tree.

The tree alone boasts 6,400 bulbs. In all, Mayes will use approximately 26,000 bulbs, controlled through 64 channels and powered by 160 amps of power. An additional 40 amps has been added to power the blow up lawn decorations and rope light fixtures.

"Last year it was getting overloaded and blowing fuses," Barbra Mayes said.

All the programming is done via home computer. Mayes has also used his computer to set up a Website (www. whartontexaschristmas.com) that contains show times, directions to his home, information on sponsorships, photographs from last year's show, food recipes and even instructions on how to build some of the decorations.

The large Christmas trees, for example, are constructed out of PVC pipe. The smaller trees are upside-down tomato cages wrapped in rope lights.

Mayes builds all such decorations himself. He also will take an active role in hosting the show, greeting spectators, directing traffic and dressing up in white beard and red suit on the nights when Santa Claus makes a guest appearance.

Mayes has spent the last seven weeks getting everything ready. Opening night will be next Friday, Nov. 30. The show will run through New Year's Day, lasting 20 minutes and re-setting every half hour.

Show times are 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Mayes is looking for volunteers to help with the presentation, and is also seeking corporate sponsorships. All proceeds, like before, go towards SHARE.

Last year, Mayes raised $3,000 and collected one ton of food and dozens of boxes of diapers, clothes and other products for the area's needy families.

"It was a driving force to get me to do it again this year," Mayes said, referring to how much was raised during last year's show.

He plans to post weekly updates on how much is collected on the Website.