Every year, we look forward to opening night. The lights go on, the music starts, and cars begin rolling slowly down Shenandoah Road. Families tune to 106.9 FM. Little kids press their faces against car windows. It is exactly what we hoped for when we started this show.
But every year, we also hold our breath a little. Because as wonderful as it all is, the combination of darkness, excited children, and moving vehicles is one that deserves everyone's full attention.
This post is a personal plea from the Lewis family: please slow down when you drive near a Christmas light display — ours, or anyone else's.
🌓 Why Light Shows Are Especially Risky at Night
Christmas light displays draw crowds precisely because they look best after dark — usually starting around 5:00 or 5:30 PM in late November and December in Rhode Island. That means visitors are arriving and departing in low-light conditions on residential streets that were not designed for heavy traffic.
Here is what makes this combination particularly hazardous:
- Children in dark clothing are nearly invisible to drivers. A child in a black or dark coat standing between two parked cars can be invisible until a car is just a few feet away.
- Excitement overrides caution. Children — especially young ones — are not thinking about traffic when they see 10,000 lights synchronized to their favorite Christmas song. They are thinking about the lights.
- Parked cars create blind spots. On a narrow residential street lined with parked vehicles, a driver cannot see a child stepping out from between them until it may be too late to stop.
- Slow-moving traffic feels safer than it is. Even a car moving at 10 mph can seriously injure a small child if there is no time to brake. Speed is not the only factor — alertness is.
- Distracted drivers are common. Visitors looking at the lights, adjusting the radio to 106.9 FM, or pointing things out to passengers are not giving the road their full attention.
👥 What We Ask of Every Visitor
✅ Safety rules when visiting a light show
- Drive slowly — no more than 5–10 mph on the display street
- Stay in your vehicle whenever possible — enjoy the show from inside the car
- If you get out, keep children between you and the car, away from the roadway
- Hold young children's hands at all times when outside a vehicle
- Do not let children run between or ahead of parked cars
- Look both ways — traffic can approach from either direction
- Do not stop suddenly in the roadway — signal and pull to the side first
- Put your phone away — enjoy the lights, not your screen
🏠 What We Do on Our End
We do everything we can to keep Shenandoah Road safe during show nights. The display is designed so visitors can enjoy it from their vehicles without getting out. We keep the music broadcast limited to the immediate viewing area. On busy nights, we try to be visible outside so drivers know people — and children — are present near the road.
🔌 For Drivers Passing Through Who Are Not Visiting
If you live in the neighborhood or are passing through Shenandoah Road during show hours, please be patient with slow-moving traffic and expect pedestrians near the road. We do our best to manage the flow, but peak nights between Thanksgiving and Christmas can bring a steady stream of visitors over the course of several hours.
We are grateful for the support of our neighbors who have tolerated 30 years of light-show traffic. Your patience means everything to us.
🎇 A Final Word
We run this show because we love sharing something joyful with our community. Every year, thousands of people make the trip to Shenandoah Road and leave smiling. We never want that to be overshadowed by an accident that could have been prevented.
Slow down. Stay alert. Keep an eye out for children running between cars. And then enjoy every second of the show — because that is exactly what it is there for.
We will see you this season. Drive safe out there.
— The Lewis Family