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For a few minutes, it's easy to forget you're just steps from the beach and that it's not really that cold outside.
Thousands of lights weave beside and above you as houses built on postage stamp-sized lots present one cohesive display of Hilton Head Island's holiday spirit.
"You're not just driving by and looking at one side and then looking at the other," said Rob Lolik, who inadvertently started the street festival 18 years ago. "You're inside it."
The Dove Street tradition began when Lolik strung lights on a 40-foot-tall magnolia tree to celebrate the birth of his daughter, Amanda. His neighbor, Paul Beckler, decorated his home, and the street never looked back.
Since the early days, the Dove Street lights have grown, now extending on both sides of North Forest Beach Drive.
COMMON QUESTIONS
How much is your electric bill?
Lolik: "Spinning out of control. It's about two-and-a-half times what it usually is."
How many lights are up in the neighborhood?
Lolik: "At one time or another we were saying there were 50 or 60,000 lights. I know I've got something like 5,000 on the big tree."
How long does it take to set up?
Lolik: "About two weeks. Out of those two weeks, about six days are 10- or 12-hour days."
How many people stop by?
Lolik: "Many, many thousands. Three or four years ago we had a traffic counter for one evening a few days before Christmas. We had something like 1,400 cars between 6 and 10 p.m. I think it was backed up to the traffic circle."
With all of the light, how are you able to sleep at night?
Lolik: "We really don't have a problem because our bedroom is on the back of the house. There's just sort of a glow. When we take the lights down, everyone comes outside and says they can't believe how dark it is."
Why do you keep doing this year after year?
Lolik: "Because they'd probably chase us off the island if we stopped."
