Bowling Green light show honors local veterans
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — A Bowling Green Navy veteran is bringing a patriotic twist to his family’s holiday light show, with a special Veterans Day display featuring red, white and blue lights synchronized to music.
Jason Thomas spent 23 years in the Navy before retiring as a lieutenant commander. For the second year, he’s using the Thomas Family Light Show to honor fellow veterans at his home at 531 McIntyre St., in the McLellan Farms neighborhood off Nashville Road.
From holiday lights to a veterans tribute
Thomas started the family light show in 2024 after seeing similar displays in other communities. He wanted to create an annual tradition for Bowling Green families.
“Growing up here in Bowling Green, and having something that you can go to every year and make it a little bit of a family tradition, was the intent, as I put it together,” Thomas said.
The show began with Halloween and Christmas displays. Thomas later expanded his tribute to veterans from a green-light display into a five-song show with synchronized patriotic lights.
Even the Halloween decorations get a makeover. Singing pumpkins glow red, white and blue, and a star replaces the spider atop the large lighted tree.
A family project
The display features thousands of programmable LED lights. Thomas handles the wiring and setup, his children help assemble decorations, and his wife assists with music selections and visual effects.
Visitors can even request their favorite songs through an online jukebox by scanning a QR code.
“I really want to do this to create memories for the families that come by, something they can look forward to every year, something where they might have their favorite song,” Thomas said.
When and where to visit
The Thomas Family Light Show is located at 531 McIntyre St. in Bowling Green.
The Veterans Day display runs for two weeks, with viewing hours of:
- Sunday–Thursday: 5–9 p.m.
- Friday–Saturday: 5–10 p.m.
Thomas expects to launch the Christmas show Sunday, Nov. 29.
More information is available on the Thomas Family Light Show’s social media pages.
