Charlie Dubose and his town of lights

Editor's note:  This feature was originally published in November 2022 in The Item's Novemeber 2022-January 2023 edition of Lakeside.  At the time, Dubose was 71 years old. 

For nearly 46 years, the 71-year-old Sumter native has turned his front yard at 115 Gaddy Court into a Holiday attraction for Christmas lovers near and far. 

The case of the stolen angel

All it took was one string of Christmas lights. 

Charlie Dubose recounted that when he, as a young boy, plugged in, or “put the juice“ to a set of lights, “everything just clicked“ for him. The gleam of the tinted bulbs mesmerized him, and his fascination would soon become an annual holiday attraction for Sumter. 

At 25 years old, he was a married man and father shopping for Christmas decorations. His children wandered throughout the store in search of the perfect holiday fixture for their yard when they found it: a warmly lit angel. That was the start of his collection. Year after year, he bought new fixtures, each one different and more extravagant than the last. Once community members got word of the man collecting Christmas lights and his impressive patience to display them throughout his yard, they started to donate lights to him.

But then the unthinkable happened. One chilly night, the Grinch stole the family’s beloved angel. Dubose said the family was heartbroken, and so was the community. The story of the stolen angel was published in newspapers from Sumter all the way to New York, he said.

Weeks later, Dubose learned a man in Sumter bought the angel. Though the unknown buyer was willing to give Dubose back the angel for free, he said he wanted to pay him the amount the stolen fixture was sold for, plus extra. 

“Then I told him, ‘go enjoy a steak dinner, on me, for being honest and bringing it back’,” he said, followed by a hearty laugh. 

Sadly, the fixture was broken. Dubose knew he could restore their fallen angel to good standing and have it back on display, but his wife, Susan, asked him to put it away for safekeeping.

Tucked away somewhere safe on their property is where the angel has sat for years. Though it may never shine its warm lights during the holiday season again, the thousands of other lights make up for it in its absence. 

Bulb by bulb

From the rocking chairs on his front porch, Dubose looked out upon his vast property – an estimated 10 acres of land to be covered by twinkling lights. 

He bought the property in front of his home years ago to accommodate his growing collection. Prior to printing this publication, there were over 50 fixtures on display in October. Fixtures of jolly Saint Nick playing basketball and flying his helicopter full of presents to Jesus looking down on a church and a pristinely painted scene of Jesus in a manger– Dubose’s personal favorite – we’re already scattered throughout the property. Yet, he said he was “nowhere near done.”

There is still one fixture that nearly brings cars to a halt. 

In a relaxed old English font, the phrase “Seasons Greetings” sits more than 10 feet above ground. Supported by metal poles and coated in stark white, the holiday cheer of the piece comes out at night when bright red and green lines reflect off its letters.

Dubose came into possession of the fixture when the old Coca-Cola plant in Sumter was giving it away. After a few renovations, some hammering and a little designing, he made the fixture a staple among his collection. 

Over time, he created some of his own unique pieces like the candy cane archway that leads cars to Santa and Mrs. Claus, who happily make the trip down from the North Pole each year, to the mini twinkling lights scattered throughout his front yard. The methods of his festive madness remain a secret, but his ability to turn the most mundane object into something magical could put all of Santa‘s elves to shame. 

With various fixtures in a variety of sizes, Dubose has setting up and lighting up his collection down to a science, but it was no easy feat.

“When I first started, that transformer,” he said, as his index finger pointed out across the yard, “I blew it with these lights. Then the light company came out and put another transformer up, and I blew that one. So, they came back out and put up another one.“

 Dubose said the electrical staff joked with him as they said, “We want to see how good you are, see if you can blow this one.“

“I said, ‘Just give me a little time and I’ll see what I can do for you’,“ he said through his rickety laugh. 

White and orange extension cord stretch miles across the yard. Metal poles are hammered deep into the ground. Zip ties are fastened to hold the fixtures upright. Those and any more tools, tactics, tips and tricks have been used to make the attraction what it is. From the middle of September to the day before Thanksgiving, Dubose spends nearly eight hours a day setting up his collection. 

For him, joyous reactions he sees on those cheerful winter nights are worth the time and effort. 

Making Christmas bright

From Thanksgiving until three days after Christmas, the lights will illuminate the semicircle property. Dubose  will turn the lights on at about 6 p.m. and turn them off around 9 p.m. on the weekdays, 10 p.m.on the weekends. 

Entry to the attraction is free, and Dubose encourages residents to drive-through as many times as they want. For him, he finds enjoyment in the joy of others. 

The Duboses helped Mr. and Mrs. Claus, supplying them with the 15,000-17,000 pieces of candy they pass out to all who come by. After four decades, Dubose said he can’t keep track of the number of cars that pass through, but he said cars sometimes line up to the Gamecock Shrine Club. That’s seven miles from his house. 

With so much power being used, one can only assume the electricity bill would be enormous. Though he wouldn’t share an estimated amount, his slow head nod and raised brow when asked if the bill is a lot was enough said. 

He does receive donations in his red mailbox to help with the cost, but he doesn’t expect it – he doesn’t expect much from anyone except for attendees, especially children, to have a good time as they drive through the illuminated Wonderland.

“I’m not saying all kids, but for some kids, this is the only Christmas they see,“ he said. “And that means a lot to me.“