HOLIDAYS: Farewell and thanks from West Seattle Lights’ creator

| Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo from West Seattle Lights)

While working on the just-launched 2019 WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, we discovered the website for a seasonal favorite, music-synched West Seattle Lights, had gone dormant. Its creator Jim Winder confirms that’s because the show is done after a decade. His message for you:

It is with deep sadness that I must inform the West Seattle Community that West Seattle Lights will not be up and running this year. Over the past few years it has become more and more difficult to try to run and maintain West Seattle Lights from my home in Maple Valley.

Growing up, Christmas Lights has always been a big part of my life…especially since my Grandmother only lived one block away from the Gais’ house in West Seattle. I do hope West Seattle Lights has also brought some great memories for you and your family. I especially want to thank the Helmstetler Family for allowing me to take over their home for two months out of the year … but most of all I want to thank you, the West Seattle Community for your generosity and your giving to our two main charities and the Very Special Charities we collected donations for. The West Seattle Food Bank and Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation have greatly appreciated your generous giving over the last ten years….so please remember them and any other charities this holiday season.

If you do get a need for a Sir Charles fix, feel free to come visit us out at Maple Valley Lights!! Again, thanks to you all for a great ten years!!

Jim’s show in Maple Valley is at 22629 SE 263rd Place [map]. We first featured his WS show in November 2009.

Casey November 15, 2019 (8:57 pm)

I’m so sad to see this end! Thank you so much for the many years of wonderful memories. Just today my (teenage!)kids were asking when the light house starts.guess we’ll just have to make a trip to maple valley!

Jim Winder November 15, 2019 (10:51 pm)

Thanks for coming by and enjoying the lights and music!

Barb November 15, 2019 (10:24 pm)

Sorry to see this end. We have been going since the beginning and have loved it every year. Thanks for all your effort to entertain us.

Jim Winder November 15, 2019 (10:52 pm)

Thanks for letting me entertain you and your family!!

Kalo November 16, 2019 (7:39 am)

T’was a great show! Thank you Jim!

Jim November 17, 2019 (4:13 pm)

Thanks Kalo…it lives on out in Maple Valley!!! lol

daPuffin November 16, 2019 (8:06 am)

We have loved the show over the years and will continue to donate to those causes. Thank you for all the fun. 😎

Jim November 17, 2019 (4:11 pm)

Thanks Dapuffin for you generous donations over the years…

Judy P. November 16, 2019 (10:53 am)

I’ve enjoyed your show of lights and music for the last few years. You will be missed. Thanks for the great entertainment. You are the best!

Jim November 17, 2019 (4:11 pm)

Thanks Judy for the kind words!!

Lisa November 16, 2019 (11:48 am)

So sad to see this end as it’s been such a wonderful tradition and addition to the neighborhood. Big thanks to Jim and the Helmstetler family for bringing so much chear to the community!!

Jim November 17, 2019 (4:10 pm)

Hey Lisa…thanks for making us part of your family tradition…

Lauri November 16, 2019 (8:30 pm)

So sad that this house won’t be on our West Seattle Christmas drive anymore. Thank you for some of our wonderful family memories. We appreciate the hard work you put in to it over the years. And thank you to the Helmstetler family for letting us enjoy your home.

Jim November 17, 2019 (4:09 pm)

Thank you Lauri for being part of our wonderful memories too!

Nicole November 17, 2019 (7:01 am)

Thank you for 10 years! Our family has LOVED your shows – it has been a real highlight of our holiday season.

Jim November 17, 2019 (4:08 pm)

Thank You Nicole..and your family for coming by…

West Seattleite November 17, 2019 (7:33 pm)

Jim, we moved here in the summer before you started your amazing show and our son has grown up watching each year. Thank you for sharing your talent and time for so long. And thanks to the Helmstetler’s for hosting!

Jim November 18, 2019 (11:28 am)

Thanks for dropping by each year with your son….soooo…he must be old enough that he could take over??? LOL

Shawn Guenther November 18, 2019 (8:27 am)

Jim November 18, 2019 (11:28 am)

very :(

Ken November 18, 2019 (8:28 pm)

This is disappointing news. Always looked forward in seeing this house during the holidays. No doubt this light/music show will be mentioned for decades to come – just as people still fondly recall the great display by the Gai’s at Christmas.

Thank you for all the work you put in over the years Jim and thanks also to the Helmstetler Family for hosting.

Jim November 21, 2019 (5:31 pm)

Thanks Ken…not only the Gais house but also the Menashies…the one with the Charlie Brown Cutouts…West Seattle has always had some great displays over the years!

Keith B November 19, 2019 (9:12 am)

First and foremost, enormous thanks and ‘bravo’ to Jim and the Helmstetler family for creating and hosting this annual display and turning it into a charitable cause. Like others have shared, it’s been an annual tradition for us every single year. Many nights in December we’ve walked up to check it out, with our little red radio and warm beverages in hand, or made a brief detour/pit stop when driving home. Many friends who come to our annual holiday party also made that occasion their opportunity to see it, year after year! Beyond the show itself, it’s been such a cool gathering space for people to come together and share a little moment of joy. I’ll miss it a lot, and the community it created.