Eastridge Residents Find Ways Around Expensive Christmas Displays

by ABC-7 Reporter Rachel Abell

El Paso, TX — Will the struggling economy affect one of El Paso’s favorite Christmas traditions?

Aparently not!

Recession or no recession, many holiday light displays in the Eastridge neighborhood are in full force!

Residents we talked to said the famous tradition is going to cost them, but the idea of a dark Eastridge during the holiday season just wasn’t an option!

“That’s one of the reasons we moved here…because of the lights and christmas…we love it,” said Eastridge resident, Alfonso Rojas.

And Rojas isn’t alone!

Many of his neighbors homes and yards already feature the holiday light displays so well-known to the people of the borderland.

“i don’t know how they’re doing it, but they’re doing it,” he said. “It’s hard with the economy the way it is, but you’ve got to scrounge it up somehow…it’s a tradition!”

To make sure every dollar counts, this year, Alfonso found some more cost-efficient lights called LED lights.

He said they save about 75% more energy than traditional Christmas lights.

Residents in the Eastridge Neighborhood said their electric bill can jump as much as 50% during the holiday season…and with the economy the way it is, that’s going to hit some of these residents harder than ever.

But Alfonso said watching his kids’ eyes light up when they see the decorated houses makes it all worth it.

“It’s a tradition…the kids love it, aunts and uncles they all love the lights. We love it when people come to look at the displays.”