A lot has changed since John Watt started spreading holiday cheer to families across the Hudson Valley and beyond 17 years ago, starting with the cost of electricity.

Watt and his family love Christmas. They bring smiles to children's faces by putting on an annual one-mile drive thru Christmas Wonderland in Goshen.

“It's a great time. It's just a great time to see all the faces,” said Watt, who started his first Christmas display when he was just 18.

“It overgrew. So, I had to buy this piece of property, and I created this drive-thru Christmas display,” said Watt.

He begins to prepare right after he takes down his Halloween display.

“That only gives me two weeks, about 100 hours a week, to put this show on because I open up on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving,” said Watt.

He said his first December electric bill 17 years ago was about $8,000. Based on the bills he received this year and the higher costs, he thinks that number will increase by a lot.

“The electric has gone up tremendously. Product lights and all that has gone up at least 50%, but it's just what it is,” said Watt.

Watt has big plans for his 20-year anniversary, and would like to expand the mile drive to two-and-a-half miles.

“We have 1,600 amps of electric. We have two transformers and just a lot of wires running everywhere,” said Watt.

Watt charges a $5 donation to help pay the cost of his electric bill and maintenance. Although this mile-long Christmas wonderland can be very costly, Watt looks forward to it every year.

“It's tough to keep it at that price because of what's happening these days, but it's going good. It's not about the money. It's just about the faces and letting kids see their own little Disney World here,” said Watt.

Michael Hoyt and his family have come to the Watt Christmas Wonderland for years.

“The girls love it. Our family loves it. It's become a tradition. So, we just love the family spirit of everything,” said Hoyt.

The Watt Christmas Wonderland will continue at 310 Scotchtown Ave., Goshen, until Dec. 30.