Payton Bohler has always had a passion for Christmas. For as long as he can remember, decorating for the holiday season has been more than just a fun activity; it’s a cherished tradition. Ever since he was a little boy, barely 3 or 4 years old, Bohler was drawn to the sparkle of Christmas lights and the magic they brought to his home. As he grew older, this love blossomed into something much bigger, eventually inspiring his business, PT’s Lawn Care and Holiday Lighting, which combines his skills in landscaping with his love for festive lights.
The spark for his elaborate Christmas light displays began in 2013, when he was only 11 years old. That year he decided to take his lighting skills beyond the usual by decorating his family’s chicken coop with thousands of lights. His display that year featured about 9,000 to 10,000 lights, drawing local attention and admiration. Each year since, Bohler has expanded his collection, and now his family home is adorned with a breathtaking 85,000 to 90,000 lights. Christmas isn’t just a season for Bohler; it’s a journey of creativity, nostalgia and joy that has become a gift to his community.
One of Bohler’s favorite aspects of decorating is his love for vintage Christmas decorations, especially the classic blow molds that harken back to simpler times. His passion for vintage decor was sparked by his grandmother, who gifted him his first blow mold when he was just 8 years old. Every year he decorates her original 1960s aluminum tree at the family home in her honor. Sadly, Bohler’s grandmother passed away last year, but he keeps her memory alive with every light strand he strings and every blow mold he places in his display. In her memory, he has continued to build his collection, even receiving a recent donation of 86 blow molds from a kindhearted woman who wanted to support his Christmas display.
Each year Bohler’s decorating process takes about a month and a half. His designs are meticulous, with a blend of tradition and innovation. While he sticks to a similar theme each year, he enjoys adding new scenes and decorations to keep things fresh. He also finds ways to integrate technology into his display, timing certain lights to music for a truly immersive experience. But even with his knack for electrifying the holiday season, there’s always one practical challenge: power. Fortunately, Bohler’s dad, Pete Bohler, is always willing to help, adding more and more outlets to the exterior of their home to support the growing number of lights. So far this year, Pete has installed three additional outlets just to keep the lights running smoothly.
Bohler’s creativity isn’t limited to his family home; he also brings his holiday spirit to Farm Girl Mercantile, the charming shop owned by his mother, Tracy Bohler. The store’s light display has a similar feel to the one at their home, inviting visitors to step into a nostalgic Christmas wonderland. Bohler says working alongside his mom is one of the best parts of the season. Tracy has always fostered a love for Christmas in him and his sisters, Sofia and Savannah, creating holiday traditions that he holds dear. He jokingly recalls how his mom was the one who taught him the essential art of “tree fluffing” – an important skill in the Bohler household.
One of Bohler’s proudest achievements is the annual canned food drive that his family hosts alongside the light display. They encourage visitors to pull into their circular driveway to fully appreciate the light show, and in return, guests often bring donations for the Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County. The drive has grown each year, with last season marking their largest collection of food yet. Bohler and his family are hopeful that this year they’ll exceed their previous record, helping even more families in need during the holiday season.
Bohler’s light display is more than a hobby; it’s become a cherished community event. Each year locals and visitors alike stop by to experience the magic, nostalgia and warmth of a classic Christmas brought to life through his creativity. From the carefully arranged blow molds to the whimsical Rudolph scene from the 1964 film, Bohler’s home is a tribute to the Christmases of yesteryear, made new again with each strand of lights and every decoration placed.
For Bohler, Christmas is a time to remember family, honor tradition and share joy. His love for the holiday season, instilled by his mom and nurtured by his grandmother’s memory, shines brightly in every bulb and every decoration. Through his elaborate displays and dedication to spreading holiday cheer, Bohler has turned his passion for Christmas into a legacy that brightens the lives of everyone who visits.
