Barbara and John Kaiser. Photo: Chris Emeott
The Kaiser family celebrate a lifetime of holiday cheer.
For over two decades, John and Barbara Kaiser have transformed their Bridgewater Court home into a spectacular display of holiday lights and joy. John Kaiser, who runs a home inspection company, has found a way to channel his passion for Christmas lights into a gift for the entire community—and their now-grown daughters, Jamie and Brooke, and their grandchildren, Sawyer, Abigail and Isabell, love the lights just as much as the rest of the neighborhood.
Kaiser’s love for holiday lights started when he was just 14 years old. Growing up, his parents didn’t put up outdoor decorations, so he took matters into his own hands. “I decided to take the bull by the horns and decorate their house on the outside,” he says. “Every year for five to six years, I kept increasing the lights … My dad was shy and thought it was silly, but he started to like it, too. My mother really loved them.”
In 1998, the Kaisers married and moved to a townhouse in Coon Rapids, where the homeowners’ association put a stop to his decorating. “That was a big Scrooge moment,” he says with a laugh. “I told myself, ‘One day, I want a house to put as many lights on as I can put on it.’”
In 1999, when they build their Woodbury home, Kaiser began decorating for the holidays. He made a trip to a big box home improvement store to pick up lights and decorations. That first display was modest compared to what it would eventually become. Over the years, Kaiser became inspired by Clark Griswold from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and set out to make his house as festive as possible. This project grew into what it is today: A two-month endeavor that’s more than just a light display.
In the spirit of the holiday season, the Kaiser home includes thousands of lights, 25 inflatables and 40 LED decorations. Photo: John Kaiser
“My goal is to turn the lights on my Thanksgiving,” Kaiser says. “I start putting them up in early November, sometimes late October. I have a tendency to go out during the cold and rain … If it’s bad weather, I just have to work a little harder.” Over the years, the display has grown exponentially, especially since the advent of LED lights. “When I first started, I had to run eight separate breakers and outlets outside. The older lights would heat up and trip the breakers all the time,” he says. “There were so many times I would come home to a dark house.”
On top of the thousands of lights, the couple’s display now includes 25 inflatables and over 40 stand-up LED decorations. One of Kaiser’s personal favorites is the Santa Claus display that has been with them since the beginning, surviving Barbara’s multiple repairs and motor replacements. “It’s hard to get rid of because it was our first one,” Kaiser says.
The tree in their front yard, aptly named Charlie from A Charlie Brown Christmas (“When we moved in, the girls and Barbara said it looked like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree,” he says.), boasts at least 5,000 lights. Inside, Barbara takes charge, turning their home into a winter wonderland with three Christmas trees, lights and other festive decorations, which delights those who visit the house, Kaiser says.
The Kaiser’s holiday spirit extends well beyond the lights, however, as for the past six years, they’ve collected hundreds of gifts for Toys for Tots, with donations sometimes reaching up to 700 gifts in a season. “People are very kind and generous,” Kaiser says, noting he invites visitors to drop off toy donations at the end of their driveway throughout the month of December. Additionally, Kaiser embraces his occasional role as Santa Claus, appearing outside their home throughout December to greet families and hand out candy canes. Last year, Kaiser went out 10 times—and he expects that to be increased this December. “I couldn’t get enough of it,” he says.
They’ve even set up a special mailbox for letters to Santa—keeping each and every letter that’s been dropped off by hopeful youngsters. “I’ve got them all saved. It’s so cute, and I love reading the little notes and letters from kids,” Kaiser says. One memorable letter came from a young boy who also handed him a bag of cookies made by him and his mom. “He leaned over, and said, ‘Santa, I also stuck one of my chicken nuggets in there for you because I know you’re hungry tonight,’” Kaiser says. “I couldn’t stop laughing; it was so darn cute.”
Each year, the Kaisers are rewarded with hundreds of smiles, laughter and heartfelt thanks from the community—and the display is ever-growing, too. Kaiser has started to decorate his next-door neighbor’s house, too. “I would love to do the whole cul de sac if everyone would let me,” Kaiser says. “But then I might run out of storage.”
Woodbury residents can expect this colorful display to continue over the years. “I’ve loved and been amazed by Christmas lights since I was a kid,” Kaiser says. “For me to do this and give back to the community … it’s paid back so much by everyone’s smiles and happiness.”
View the Kaisers’ holiday light display at 10161 Bridgewater Court. To see when Santa Claus might appear, join the Woodbury, MN – Neighbors group on Facebook, where his schedule is posted.
