Tiverton’s Lights for Lives Display Does More Than Just Dazzle

Larry and Colleen St. Onge have been bringing the Christmas Spirit to their Tiverton home for nine years. The Lights for Lives House, as it has been named, does a lot more for the Tiverton community than just dazzling passersby.

Larry said to make sure the house is up and running by Thanksgiving, he has to start decorating in August. The display includes blow molds, inflatables, and bigger light-up decorations including a penguin family, Cinderella's castle, the Eiffel Tower, and a giant pegasus.

The 70,000 lights are synchronized to music. If you want to sit in the car and enjoy the display from a safe distance, tune your radio to 91.7 FM and enjoy the show as you drive by on Hayden Avenue.

Here are the three things you need to know before you visit one of the bigger displays on the SouthCoast:

1. There is a red metal trashcan out front for non-perishable food donations and above it, a white lock-box for monetary donations. The family empties the box and can each night and the money is donated to Make-A-Wish Mass/RI and the Tiverton Food Pantry.

2. There is a giant sleigh for special weekly visits from the Big Guy himself. If you can't make it to see him during his Friday and Saturday visits or want to avoid the crowds, there is also a Letters to Santa mailbox that the St. Onges also empty every night. Leave a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your letter to Santa and Larry and Colleen will see to it that Santa gets the letter and responds. It is a task Larry said he takes to heart and always makes sure "Santa" answers every single one.

3. The display is designed to let you walk through, first going in through the giant archway and following the sidewalk back out to the driveway, where you can exit. Keeping the one-way-only traffic this year keeps the display COVID compliant. Follow them on Facebook for any updates to showings. The current schedule of shows is Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday-Sunday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Hayden Avenue is a tight street and likely full of traffic from visitors wanting to see this incredible display. Drive very slowly and be very aware of families crossing the street, especially at the display's exit. Make sure you bring your masks, keep your distance, and enjoy the labor of love that is the Lights for Lives Home in Tiverton.