Holiday light show in the Sonoma Valley

Bob Ottaviano and Golly McGinty have been putting on the holiday light show for nine years at their Sonoma home. This year, they say, is their last.|

There are no cross streets or busy intersections where Bob Ottaviano and Golly McGinty live in rural Sonoma, but that hasn't deterred anyone from finding their festive holiday house. Cars line up every December for the couple's Christmas light show that's perfectly synchronized to seasonal music.

Rooftop stars light up and flash in tune as dozens of circular wine barrel rims seem to create flowing waves along a fence line, everything moving to Randy Travis' upbeat “Jingle Bell Rock.”

Minutes later, “Carol of the Bells” by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra rings out a flash dance of jumping lights keeping up with the fast-paced instrumentals.

Twenty-five lighted Christmas trees line a circular driveway, and 50 snowflakes crafted by McGinty from corrugated plastic twinkle in the display; many of its items are handmade especially for the show.

This year, though, there's an emotional dimming of the bright lights dancing across the 1-acre landscape. It's the final year for the popular attraction, the only thing like it in Sonoma Valley.

“It's just getting to be too much work,” said Ottaviano, who is in his early 70s. “We're just too old to do this any more.”

It takes Ottaviano and a friend three months to set up the show, putting in four or five hours daily. Once Thanksgiving night rolls around, Ottaviano debuts the show and then keeps daily check on burned-out bulbs and needed updates.

This holiday season marks Ottaviano and McGinty's ninth year presenting their extravaganza of lights, music and action - 17 songs, about 50,000 lights and countless holiday characters, from a trio of pink flamingos in Santa hats to snowmen, sleighs, penguins and reindeer.

Even jolly St. Nick appears at the Gehricke Road ranch house surrounded by vineyards, just down the narrow, winding road from Ravenswood Winery. Santa strongly resembles Ottaviano, but no one will confirm the similarity.

“Last year, Santa came and handed out candy canes,” McGinty said. Added Ottaviano: “Santa wore LED lights on his shoes. He was really a hit.”

Coincidentally, the majority of lights used for the couple's display are LED. Ottaviano painstakingly coordinates music to the numerous holiday decorations, using seven control boxes programmed to 16 channels each, a total of 112 channels.

Ottaviano acknowledges the process is “complicated,” but dismisses any suggestion of technical wizardry. He applies his Navy background as a jet aviation mechanic and career experience in avionics electronics, steel mill inspections, university lasers and software duplication.

“The electrical connections, I memorize,” he said. “I've done it for so long I just know how to do it.”

A laptop computer runs the show, as Ottaviano crosses his fingers a technical glitch won't darken - or silence - the display.

“I always fear the hard drive will crash on me, and then I'll be dead in the water,” Ottaviano said.

The show runs about 20 minutes, continuously repeating throughout the night.

Although most of the songs are Christmas tunes, Ottaviano has a few 4-foot-tall Storm Troopers from “Star Wars” standing guard, with the movie theme sending lights - light sabers, maybe - up and down a towering palm tree. He's never seen a “Star Wars” film, but thought kids would enjoy the fun.

People of all ages make the display part of their holiday tradition. Some come with wine or hot toddies as they walk outside their cars on the country road, toasting the season and watching the show.

Boyes Hot Springs resident Laurie Pedroncelli, mother of four grown children, is among the visitors marveling over the planning and technology that goes into the show.

“It's really delightful for all of us,” she said. “It's so fun to watch. We sit in awe and really enjoy it. I knew somebody had to be a genius to put it together.”

Her 44-year-old daughter, Monica, has special needs and particularly loves the Christmas songs, decorations and rousing light show.

“It's really brought delight to her during the Christmas season,” Pedroncelli said. “We've all thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Ottaviano and McGinty, 55, a local realtor, include several personal tributes in their display.

An old, rusty tractor at the front of the property is decked out with purple and pink lights, with a large breast cancer awareness ribbon of pink lights. A friend specially crafted the ribbon, part of a tribute to those touched by cancer. McGinty is a longtime organizer of Sonoma's Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, with six cancer survivors among the members of her “Just Old Friends” team.

A blue and white Star of David blinks from the rooftop of the couple's house, in honor of a Jewish friend. A lighted yard sign announces “Norm's Tree,” in tribute to a late friend who offered a “flag pole” for the display. That pole turned out to be a 32-foot streetlight pole that's now the center of a dazzling tree of lights.

Ottaviano often is right in the mix, mingling with visitors. On many occasions, he and McGinty find thank-you notes (many penned by children) tucked into their chainlink fencing, and even bottles of wine left on their front porch as expressions of gratitude.

They've never put out a donation box to help with expenses. The display is something they simply enjoy doing for the community.

“This is our Christmas,” McGinty said. “We don't exchange gifts. We do this for everyone.”

The couple has invested about $20,000 into their holiday project, for everything from lights and decorations to technical equipment and extension cords totaling 5,300 feet.

They say there is no way to calculate the joy they've gotten from their holiday showcase.

“It's just rewarding,” Ottaviano said. “It really hits you right here (in the heart). It brings tears to your eyes.”

The couple's home was in a mandatory evacuation zone during October's firestorms, with a roadblock placed outside their driveway. Flames came within a quarter-mile of their house, located at the base of scenic eastside hills.

Several first responders mentioned coming every year to see the Christmas display, and were saddened to discover this is the last year.

Two signs posted on the property announce, “Final Year, Saying Good Bye,” a message that's brought offers of help to keep the showcase going.

“People always say how much they love the display, and that they look forward to it,” Ottaviano said.

As part of his farewell, he's added Edward Bear's “Last Song” to his light show.

The couple is grateful so many people have found their way to their holiday home.

“You wouldn't believe how many people have come up and told us they appreciate it,” Ottaviano said.

But, he says, there's a point when climbing high ladders, stepping across rooftops and balancing among tree branches becomes dangerous.

“I'm at my limit,” he said. “I don't want to take any chances.”

Visit the holiday light show from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday at 19090 Gehricke Road, Sonoma. The final night is New Year's Eve.

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