Why did we start this project?
When folks visit large holiday displays, we would often hear the question asked of the display owner: “Where are other cool displays like this?” We had the realization there was not a centralized resource for this, and the ones that were out there were hyper-local centralized, or you just had to wait until near the end of the month for the local newspaper to publish whatever list they put together, or hear about 1 or 2 on the local news.
Our Timeline:
- 2012
-
We started as a collaboration with Woodinville Wonderland compiling a list of display in the Seattle metro area.
We were inspired by the display owner, by KOMO4’s Steve Pool and his “Parade of Lights” news segment.
- 2014
-
The list grew to include all of WA state, Oregon, and parts of British Columbia Canada.
- 2015
-
The paper list is now 5 pages long and getting hard to manage and update frequently. Started Facebook page for the project, and took on the name of Pacific NW Christmas Lights.
- 2016
-
Page following grows by 300% year over year for the next few years.First full year of online map of displays.
- 2017
-
We expand our listings to include Halloween, and build out partnerships with local haunt groups
- 2018 - 2019
-
Page and listings continue to grow, and we start to network with other similar regional resources for holiday mapping. We proudly network with them and curate a list of other local mappers.
- 2020
-
Continued to increase online presence, and worked to ensure safe, socially distant enjoyment of displays.
This was the year we had our first major media coverage, as we were on the local news (FOX 13) TWICE! The 2nd one was rebroadcasted on FOX 12 Oregon. This is also the year we interviewed LIVE on the radio (Spirit 105.3FM)
- 2021
-
Growth of Instagram 300%. 1.5 million views on previous year’s Christmas map. This year we were highlighted by KHQ Spokane on their webpage! We were also in the Seattle Times holiday guide, before the first paid advertising for the PNW Ballet’s Nutcracker!!
- 2022
-
Further growth and expansion of listings to include additional holiday maps.
- 2023
-
Huge growth on Halloween display listings, 600+ listings 100k map views.