The kids and I went to see these lights last year. We can't wait to go back again this year. I thought I would share an article that I found in our local UIC. Come and enjoy the"Listen to the Lights" event at 4730 Bryn Ridge Court, Cumming, GA, on December 22nd at 6:00pm. Hope to see you there! 
Chasing a Dream article in the latest issue of Up In Cumming Magazine
t's a rare person who wouldn't give up on a childhood dream after thirty-six years of chasing it, and Judy Pancoast is that person. The 51-year old singer-songwriter from New Hampshire signed her first songwriting contract at the age of 15, and after years of ups and downs in the music business she is still chasing her dream of a hit song. This December she's chasing it all over the United States and on December 22, at 6:00 p.m. she'll be chasing the dream here in Cumming by performing in concert at a house that is "playing" her song, "The House on Christmas Street," in its animated Christmas display.
The name of the event is "Listen to the Lights." It's a drive through light and music show that is absolutely amazing, and each year it draws a bigger and bigger crowd from the Forsyth County and surrounding areas. The light show's location is 4730 Bryn Ridge Court in Cumming, GA. It begins November 25th and runs through January 1st. All donations benefit Forsyth's Family Haven. Show times are Mon - Thurs from 5:30- 9:00 p.m, and Fri- Sun 5:30 - 10:00 p.m. As a special treat, on December 22, at 6:00 p.m., Judy Pancoast will sing her hit song at the event, "The House on Christmas Street."
Pancoast wrote the song in 1998 as a tribute to those homeowners who go out of their way to deck their houses in lights and pageantry each Christmas season; the ones who do it just to make a little magic for the young and the young at heart.
"Everywhere I've lived there's been one of those houses," says Pancoast. "It's the one that everybody goes to see during the holidays. I have wonderful memories of going to see them as a kid, and when I was in my 20's there was actually one house that cheered me during a very depressing chapter in my life."
After recording the song on her Christmas CD Pancoast pitched it to radio year after year, to no avail. She was told time and time again that her song would never be played until the music directors at the stations knew who she was. It seemed like a daunting task, and after several years of trying, Pancoast moved on to other musical projects.
It was in 2006 that Pancoast's husband discovered the first video online of a house that was playing her song in its animated display.
"I have no idea how that first homeowner found it, but before long there were other videos popping up on various sites, and through them I found out about a worldwide network of "extreme" decorators who share information through a few online sites," Pancoast marvels. "They've welcomed me into their community with open arms, and made "The House on Christmas Street" their theme song."
A recent YouTube search turned up over a hundred results for "The House on Christmas Street," with videos from all over the world showcasing houses with light shows synchronized to the song. Homeowners tell her that it is one of the most requested songs in their line-up, but Pancoast still can't get many radio stations to give it a shot. So this year, in an effort to build a "buzz" around the song that can't be ignored, she is spending the holiday season driving around the country in her 2004 van (which already has over 315,000 miles on it) and performing live public concerts on the lawns, porches and driveways of houses that are using her song in their displays. She's literally going in a circle around the country, from New Hampshire to Washington to Texas and Florida and along the east coast. She's even being flown to the United Kingdom by a fan to perform at his house "lighting" on December first, with hopes of having the song played on the BBC. That's how much Christmas decorators around the world love the song.
Larry Drum of Cumming, GA, is one of those fans who invited Pancoast to perform at his home. He says he can't wait to meet Pancoast in person and help her promote her song. Pancoast will be performing at the Drum's annual "Listen to the Lights" event at 4730 Bryn Ridge Court, Cumming, GA, on December 22nd at 6:00pm. Visitors are encouraged to bring a donation for Forsyth's Family Haven.
To find out more about Judy Pancoast, visit her website at www.judypancoast.com. Judy Pancoast is also available for interviews at 877-583-9386.
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