After 30 years of running the Lewis Christmas Light Show, there is one question we get every single year without fail: "Is the show on tonight?" Rhode Island winters have a way of keeping everyone guessing, and we completely understand the frustration of loading up the family, driving to Shenandoah Road, and finding nothing running.
So here is our complete weather policy — how we decide, what conditions trigger a cancellation, and most importantly, how to check before you make the trip.
⛈️ What Conditions Can Cancel the Show
The show runs on electricity, and electricity and water do not mix well. We also have thousands of feet of extension cords, 12 controllers mounted along the house, and CAT 5 cable running across the yard. Safety is always the first consideration. The following conditions may cause us to cancel or shorten the show:
- Heavy rain — A light drizzle usually does not stop us, but sustained heavy rain creates safety risks for the electrical system and for visitors parked on the street.
- High winds (25+ mph) — Wind can damage displays and create hazards with lights and cables strung across the yard and roofline.
- Snow or ice on the road — We will not run the show if road conditions make it dangerous for families to drive to us, even if the display itself is fine.
- Electrical or technical failures — Sometimes a controller fails, a breaker trips, or software issues prevent us from running a synchronized show. We'd rather cancel than run a broken display.
- Extreme cold — Temperatures below 10°F can affect our FM transmitter and some of the older equipment.
📲 How to Check If the Show Is On
The fastest and most reliable way to find out if the show is running on any given night is our Facebook page. We post cancellation notices as early as we can — often by 3:00 PM on the afternoon of the show — so you have time to adjust your plans.
🔗 Where to check
- Facebook: facebook.com/lewisfamilychristmas — the primary place for same-day updates
- This website — we update the homepage when we have advance notice of a closure
We strongly recommend following our Facebook page and turning on notifications during the show season (late November through early January) so you never miss an update.
🕐 Show Hours (When We Are Running)
When the weather cooperates, you can find us running on this schedule:
- Sunday: 5:00 PM – 8:55 PM
- Monday – Thursday: 5:30 PM – 8:55 PM
- Friday: 5:30 PM – 9:25 PM
- Saturday: 5:00 PM – 9:25 PM
The 2026 season opens November 27 at 5:30 PM and runs through December 31, 2026.
🏗️ Tips for Visiting in Cold or Wet Weather
🤵️ Stay comfortable while you watch
- Tune to 106.9 FM and keep your car windows up — you can enjoy the full synchronized experience without stepping outside.
- Bring a thermos of hot chocolate. Seriously.
- Arrive a few minutes before the show starts (5:30 PM) to get a good spot on Shenandoah Road. Peak nights like weekends and the week before Christmas fill up fast.
- If it is lightly raining, the lights often look even more magical — the wet pavement reflects the colors beautifully.
❓ What If I Already Made the Drive?
We genuinely feel terrible when families make the trip and find the show is not running. If that happens, please know that it was not a decision we made lightly. We always prefer to run the show — it brings us as much joy as it brings you.
The best thing to do is check our Facebook page before you leave home. During the show season, we post by 3:00 PM on any day we expect to cancel. If conditions change suddenly (an unexpected storm or equipment failure), we post as soon as we know.
We hope to see you out on Shenandoah Road this season — rain, snow, or shine!