By Marylee Williams

NATCHEZ — Christmas is year-round for Ed Bowser.

“It’s a hobby somewhat,” Bowser said. “It can be 110 degrees outside, and I’m messing with my Christmas lights.”

Bowser, the information technology director for the City of Natchez, started putting on a Christmas light display when he moved to Natchez five years ago.

This year, Bowser’s “hobby” involves 12,711 lights, 13 holiday songs and countless hours of synchronizing music on Light-O-Rama, computer software dedicated to designing and controlling light displays.

On Christmas Eve, Bowser and his wife, Deanna, hand out candy canes to visitors. Last year, he said he went through 800 in two hours.

Sunday night, Robbie Renard and his family visited Bowser’s house, located at 9 S. Raintree St., as a stop on their yearly Christmas pilgrimage to see decorations.

Renard has toured the holiday decorations in Natchez most of his life. Renard said he’s always enjoyed Christmas lights because they instill the holiday spirit.

Fewer people are decorating their homes, but the light displays are more elaborate, Renard said.

At the Towers, an antebellum home in Natchez circa 1798, visitors can expect something different every holiday season. Owner Ginger Hyland said she’s always enjoyed Christmas decorations. The Towers is located at 801 Myrtle Ave.

“I don’t do it to attract people to the house,” Hyland said. “I do it because I love it, and I hope people love it as well.”

Similar to Bowser, Hyland thinks about Christmas decorations before the holiday season. She said she is always on the lookout for new lights, displays or ideas.

Hyland said Providence Road is one of her favorite places to see Christmas lights.

On Sunday night, vehicles slowed down and snapped pictures of Peggy Laushaw house at 86 Providence Road .

Laushaw has been decorating her home from top to bottom since the ’90s and said she does it for herself and for others.

“If I could put a smile on one person’s face once a year, it’s worth it,” Laushaw said. “The work is worth it to me. It’s not about competition or me being better than anyone else; it’s about the joy of Christmas.”

Laushaw, 61, isn’t solely responsible for the light display. She said her family plays a critical role in setting up and maintaining the decorations. And as long as she is able, Laushaw will continue decorating her home.

In Vidalia, J.C. Roberson said this is the last year he’s decorating his house, located at 503 Holly Street.

The retired BellSouth employee has been lighting up his house for about 17 years for his grandchildren. Although he doesn’t decorate alone, Roberson, 80, said he’s too old to keep climbing ladders and installing the display.

“Grandkids make you do a lot of things you normally wouldn’t do,” Roberson said.