CARRINGTON - During the Christmas season, cars drive slowly through Carrington.
David White doesn't mind if a stranger pulls into his driveway during this season - in fact, it's expected. David, brother-in-law, Terry Scoggins, and son, Daryl White, have been working all year to put together a display worthy of a visit.
The relatives all live close together along State Highway H and County Road 337, and all three go above and beyond when it comes to Christmas decorations.
"It's a family thing to light up Carrington," David said.
Each residence and yard is currently decked in light displays - flashing frogs leap along a fence line, Santa waves from sleighs, bicycles, jet skis and tractors and large letters spell out holiday messages like "Seasons greetings" and "Peace."
The displays have been up since the weekend before Thanksgiving and will remain up until New Year's Day.
David White remembers how, back in the 80s, his father used to love decorating the house for Christmas in Fulton. David White has come to love the tradition as well, putting together a growing display each year.
Over the past decade, David and Scoggins's displays have gotten bigger. Recently, Daryl joined in.
David and his wife, Terry White, even brought home a truck-load of commercial decorations from an auction this year.
The amount of work that goes into putting the displays together is substantial. David recalls working on the lights while enjoying St. Louis Cardinal's games on the television.
"It takes a lot," Scoggins said. "A couple months of work."
Back in August, David was arranging to put it more electrical hook-ups in his yard. He plans to bury more cables in his fields next year.
"To do something like this, you've got to love it," he said.
Terry and Lynn Scoggins put together a homemade spinning carousel display.
"As soon as they day after Christmas, we're out shopping," David said.
The three men will let each other know if they come across a good deal on lights.
"We help each other out," Scoggins said. "The bigger we can get, the more people will come out and make it worth the drive out here."
But the Carrington relatives aren't the only families that enjoy creating something beautiful for their neighbors. People all over Callaway County have hung lights and brought out trees.
Earlier this month, Fulton mother Cassie Schwartz began putting together a map of decorated houses in the county. All three Carrington houses - 7245 County Road 337, 3137 State Highway H and 3048 State Highway H - are included on the map, as well as dozens of other addresses in Fulton.
"Most of these are places I was told about, a few of them I visited myself with my boys," Schwartz said.
Schwartz always enjoyed going out to see Christmas lights with her mother, who made the holiday special even when it was difficult for her.
"We miss her so very much, and taking my boys to see the lights and to watch the excitement on their faces takes me back to my childhood when I remember the excitement of this time of year," Schwartz said in a Facebook message.
Schwartz's map can be found at bit.ly/2KIGclP.
"I really just wanted a way for the community to be able to share the joy and excitement from the comfort of their cars, since a lot of people can't get out and do much with COVID going around," Schwartz said. "They can for sure get in their cars and drive around to see the pretty lights and maybe it will lift some spirits in the process."
The Whites and Scoggins certainly believe in the power of holiday decorations.
"Hopefully it never ends," David said. "Hopefully, there's always someone out putting up Christmas lights."