WILMINGTON, N.C. — Traditions continue at Enchanted Airlie this winter with the annual light display welcoming families for the 17th year. 

What You Need To Know

Enchanted Airlie first started in 2005

Half of the 67-acre property is lit with Christmas lights

The team starts putting the first lights up in July

Some might think Airlie Gardens is at its most beautiful during the Christmas season when the property is decked out in lights, but the grounds supervisor, Steve Smith, says he doesn't need lights to love Airlie. 

“I love being in the garden setting, that's what I really love,” Smith said. “During the day I really like it because you can enjoy the real plants and some of the displays.”

The gardens sold out in record time this year, which is a testament to the hard work Smith and his team put in every year to create a spectacular showcase. The community support is what makes them go the extra mile in their jobs as they work to make the beloved tradition even better each year. 

“We start the beginning of the year in January and February planning,” Smith said. “We start actually putting up the lights in mid-July, and it takes up until right before Thanksgiving until everything is complete.”

While it may not have been his original idea, making Enchanted Airlie happen is now his responsibility and his pride and joy. 

“I think people enjoy coming year after year, bringing their family,” Smith said. “There's something new every year, I really enjoy it.”

 

His job starts long before dark, however, as he juggles maintaining the rest of the gardens while repairing anything that might be wrong with breakers or switches. 

“There's no breathing,” Smith said. “I am constantly looking at how we can improve and making sure that everything is working correctly. We have a lot of electricity running these lights and you get a rainy night and water and electricity don't mix.”

The job is high pressure and high stakes if anything goes wrong with the strands of millions of lights on the 67-acre property. The last thing he wants to do is let down the 50,000 visitors who make the trip to the gardens each year to see it come to life at night. 

“I'm pretty much running all night long,” Smith said. “I'm just laser focused on what we need to do ... it's nice whenever people come through during the event, and you can see how much they enjoy it.”