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Leeds Live
Leeds Live
National
Jasmine Norden

Leeds family inspired by Disneyland create Christmas winter wonderland in their own garden

A Leeds family have gone all in on Christmas with a winter wonderland in their garden consisting of tens of thousands of lights.

Hodgson Family Lights has been going for four years in Cross Gates, entirely set up by Dom Hodgson and his family at their home. They've slowly accumulated more and more decorations, and Dom said they now have more than 30,000 lights in the display.

Their entire garden has turned into a display families can walk through for Christmas, with interactive buttons to boot as well as 'selfie stations'. And the best thing is it's entirely free - though donations to Martin House Children's Hospice are encouraged if you can afford to.

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Dom, 36, told LeedsLive: "You just get inspired by going on holiday to places like Disney and want to give it a go. During lockdown we really put more and more effort into it because we couldn't go out.

"We spend all year testing and designing it, and then have a display at Halloween and one at Christmas. It started out small and just keeps growing.

"People do love it. We had more than 4,000 people come to our Halloween display, and our launch event on December 1 this year was also very popular with more than 100 people.

Dom says there are more than 30k lights in the display (Hodgson Family Lights)

"I figure that taking all the kids to a winter wonderland thing can be expensive, so this is something you can bring the kids to for free."

Dom, his wife and his daughter put everything together themselves. This year they have also introduced two sensory hours a week, where lights are turned down so they aren't as bright or loud, and any flashing is removed from the experience.

The family hopes this will make the light display accessible for autistic children or anyone who struggles with sensory overload. The Halloween light display starts getting set up from September, but the family have to almost completely change out the lights in between Halloween and Christmas.

The lights have already been popular this year (Hodgson Family Lights)

Dom is a part of a group called European Lighting Fanatics, where others also use their gardens to put on similar displays. He said between them they have raised hundreds of thousands for charity.

"Everyone asks me about how we power it," Dom added. "Dads especially always ask that.

"The whole family helps out - my daughter puts on different themed costumes."

You can find Hodgson Family Lights on Orchard Road in Cross Gates until December 24. Ordinary displays are from 5.30pm until 8pm every night, with sensory hours from 4.30pm until 5.30pm on Tuesdays and Sundays.

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