CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Snag your sunglasses, because it’s showtime at a Chapel Hill home, where the lights are brightening up the night sky.
Paul and Cathy Masterson have been preparing their home at 38 Bennett Ridge Rd. in Chapel Hill for this since July. Every single night at precisely 5:30 p.m., their home comes to life in a Christmas display worthy of area event pages.
What You Need To Know
The Masterson’s Christmas Display is located at 38 Bennett Ridge Rd. in Chapel Hill
It runs from 5:30-9 p.m. every night through Dec. 25
On Fridays and Saturdays, Santa makes a special appearance
Paul and Cathy Masterson collect donations for Carolina Animal Rescue & Recovery (CARA) in Lee County
As the kids in the Briar Chapel Hill neighborhood will tell you, it’s amazing.
“Best light show in the universe!” Emerson Young excitedly told Spectrum News 1.
Featuring between 20-30 thousand lights, 230 extension cables and one million zip ties – oh, and a snow machine – the P&C Holiday Lights Christmas Display is no small task.
Paul Masterson calls it all a “break” from his IT job. He begins designing and coordinating the light show in the summertime, with each of his 23 songs taking over four weeks to produce.
“He does such a great job with all the programming and everything, and the enthusiasm is just infectious,” Cathy Masterson said.
She is just as involved, assisting with the artistic design and handcrafting many of the fun items in their front yard.
“We don’t get anything out of it, it’s just watching the people out there,” Paul Masterson said. “We peer through the windows; you see the children laughing and dancing. You see the people watching it, the buses come up, and it’s the donations to CARA. That’s what really makes it worth it at the end of the year.”
Since 2018, the couple has collected donations for Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption (CARA) in Lee County. The Mastersons love that it’s a no-kill shelter that takes care of animals.
The Mastersons moved to Chapel Hill from Massachusetts 10 years ago. They were inspired to collect donations based on a haunted house they used to go to there.
“They would collect cans for the local shelter,” Paul Masterson said. “We just came up with the same idea. We love animals, we have two dogs, and we said, ‘well, can we do the same thing here.’”
Back in October, Spectrum News 1 ran a story about the couple’s Halloween display. Afterward, the Mastersons say they were able to give their largest donation yet to the shelter.
“We were able to give $1,000 cash donation on top of all the other items we received, including dog food, kitty litter, beds and blankets,” he said.
During the pandemic, CARA Rescue Manager Estela Ruiz explained they’ve had to postpone two of the biggest fundraisers for two years.
She says having folks like the Mastersons step up to create their own fundraisers helps a lot.
“They took it upon themselves to make such a huge production for us, I’ve met them a couple times, and they’re both so wonderful,” Ruiz said. “I haven’t had to go out there to see the lights this year yet, but I definitely will.”
“Especially with COVID, seeing people still support us is amazing,” Ruiz said.
If you aren’t able to make it out to the Christmas Display, you can donate to CARA by connecting with its Facebook page here.
The display will light up through Christmas night.