If you’ve heard someone in South Florida rave about a house in Pompano Beach that turns into a full-blown holiday wonderland every December, they were almost certainly talking about the Macek Family Christmas Lights.
It’s one of the most talked-about residential Christmas displays in Broward County, and it draws carloads of visitors every night of the season. Here’s what the display actually looks like, how it started, and everything you need to know before you go.
What Is the Macek Family Christmas Lights Display?
The Macek Family Christmas Lights is a privately run, free-to-visit holiday display at a home in Pompano Beach, Florida. The property is covered — roof, yard, palm trees, and all — in tens of thousands of lights, along with handmade and animated decorations that light up the whole street.
It’s not a commercial attraction. There’s no ticket booth and no gift shop. It’s simply a family and a small group of dedicated friends who spend weeks each fall turning a residential lot into something that looks closer to a theme park than a house.
The Story Behind the Lights
The display traces back to the early 2000s, when homeowner Mark Macek and a neighbor put up a small, patriotic display featuring an American flag made of Christmas lights, created in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. What began as a modest tribute grew year after year.
The turning point came when Joe Bird and his son, Kyle Bird, joined the effort. Kyle has been helping decorate the house since he was a young child, and the extra hands allowed the display to expand dramatically — eventually growing large enough to catch the attention of ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight.
(Macek reportedly turned down the show’s request to start decorating in September, since that would fall in the middle of hurricane season.)
Today, the crew includes Mark and his wife, Patty Macek, along with Joe and Kyle Bird, plus John Anderson and his partner, Wendy Webber — two more longtime volunteers who, notably, met each other through working on the display.
Setting it all up takes weeks of effort each fall, with the largest single piece, the front-yard tree, alone taking more than a week to assemble. Mark even built a dedicated garage just to store the decorations during the off-season, with every piece kept in its own designated spot.
One detail Mark has never revealed: what the display costs to run each December. He calls it “Santa’s Secret.”
Was 2024 Really the Last Year?
If you searched for this display expecting to find out it had shut down, you’re not alone. A widely shared local news story from December 2024 raised the possibility that the display might not return, after Kyle Bird accepted a job that would take him away from the hands-on work of decorating.
The concern was real, and the family openly discussed whether continuing made sense. But the display did return for the following holiday season, running again from late November through New Year’s Day. As with any volunteer-run tradition, the exact plans can shift from year to year, so it’s worth checking the family’s social media updates or local event listings close to the holidays to confirm the current season’s dates before you plan your visit.
What You’ll See Inside the Display
Part of what makes this display stand out from a typical string of porch lights is the sheer variety of handmade scenes packed into one yard. Visitors regularly mention:
- A towering, fully lit front-yard Christmas tree
- Animated and moving figures, including reindeer scenes
- A custom-built ice castleand toy-factory-style Santa scene
- A handcrafted polar bear and elf figures
- Palm trees along Southeast 6th Streetwrapped in coordinated lighting
- A large screen set up in the yard that shares behind-the-scenes facts about how the display comes together
Because so much of it is custom-made rather than store-bought, the display has a handmade, almost folk-art quality that separates it from mass-produced yard inflatables.
Planning Your Visit
Here’s what to know if you’re heading out to see it in person.
| Detail | Information |
| Address | 2700 SE 6th St, Pompano Beach, FL 33062 |
| Season | Typically Thanksgiving evening through early January |
| Nightly hours | Around 6–10 p.m. on weeknights, 6–11 p.m. on weekends (confirm current-year times before visiting) |
| Cost | Free |
| Parking | Street parking near the house is limited; nearby city cemetery parking is a common alternative, a short walk away |
| Street access | SE 6th Street is closed to through traffic in the evenings while the display is running |
A few practical notes worth keeping in mind:
- Don’t park on lawns.The surrounding neighborhood is residential, and organizers specifically ask visitors to respect private property.
- Go early on weeknights if you want a quieter visit.Weekends draw the biggest crowds, especially close to Christmas.
- Bring cash or a small gift if you’d like to leave a thank-you.The family has historically welcomed notes and gifts from grateful visitors, though this isn’t expected.
- Check the exact closing date each year.Some seasons have wrapped up on January 1, while other listings have shown the display running into the first week of January, so a quick check closer to your visit is worth it.
Tips for First-Time Visitors
- Plan for a walk, not just a drive-by.Many visitors park a few blocks away and walk up, which also gives a better view of the lit palm trees lining the street.
- Bring the kids.The display is designed with children in mind, and it’s common to see families making an annual tradition out of the visit.
- Take your time.Because so much of the display is handmade, slowing down to look at individual scenes reveals detail that’s easy to miss driving past.
- Follow local pages for updates.Because this is a volunteer effort rather than a business, schedule changes, weather delays, or shifts in hours are usually announced on local community pages rather than a dedicated website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Macek Family Christmas Lights display free?
Yes, It’s a residential display run by the family and volunteers, and there’s no admission fee.
Where exactly is it located?
The display is at 2700 SE 6th St in Pompano Beach, Florida, in a residential neighborhood near the coast.
Is parking available at the house?
Not directly. Street parking fills up quickly, and many visitors park near the city cemetery on SE 23rd Avenue and walk over.
Did the display close down for good?
No, Despite reports in late 2024 that it might be ending, the display returned for the following season. Since it’s run entirely by volunteers, it’s still a good idea to confirm current-year dates before visiting.
How long has the display been running?
It started small in the early 2000s and has grown steadily for more than two decades, expanding each year as more volunteers joined the effort.
Final Thoughts
The Macek Family Christmas Lights display has earned its reputation the old-fashioned way: through years of hands-on effort from a small group of people who clearly enjoy doing it.
Whether you’re a longtime Broward County visitor or planning your first trip this season, checking the current dates, arriving with a parking plan, and giving yourself time to walk the street will get you the best experience the display has to offer.