ONLY ON ABC-7: ‘The Great Christmas Light Fight’ tapes in El Paso
It’s Christmas in October in one far east El Paso neighborhood. ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight taped an episode Thursday, Oct. 9, at Fred Loya’s house.
Lights, camera, action. Christmas joy spread across boys and girls in El Paso as crews filmed an episode of the second season of the hit holiday show.
It’s the 10th year the Loya family has put up the Christmas display. It appears to get bigger and better every year. This year it’s earning national recognition.
The Loyas are one of 24 families across the nation competing for the champion light show title. They have a chance at $50,000. If they win, they plan to donate it all to 10 charities they have picked out.
However, it’s not Christmas cheer for everyone in the neighborhood. People ABC-7 spoke with in the neighborhood said traffic, noise and trash have caused headaches in year’s past during the holiday season. They also expressed concern about emergency vehicles having to get through. Some said the light display has turned them into holiday grinches.
“We hope that they come to understand that giving back to the community is more important than any minor inconvenience they suffer for a few weekends a year,” Fred Loya said.
The boys interviewed in the video portion of this story are not against the event. They said even though there have been inconveniences in the past, Loya has done a great job hiring staff to clean up trash and police crews to direct traffic. Their mother, Lilia Terrazas, called ABC-7 to make sure that is understood.
The Great Christmas Light Fight will air on ABC-7 this December. Until then, you’ll just have to wait to see if judges Michael Maloney and Sabrina Soto choose the local house as the best holiday dcor in the nation.
