‘Baby it’s COVID outside’: Turlock home’s holiday lights feature songs for the times
For this holiday season, Norman Esakhnai presents a pandemic-themed light show at his Turlock home, set to a promo for the pretend album “Now That’s What I Call a Corona Christmas.” The silly soundtrack teases songs like “Sanitizer is Comin’ to Town” and “Baby It’s COVID Outside.”
Esakhnai began planning the nightly coordinated lights, music and snow display in February and invites the community to stop by 731 E. Tuolumne Road through Jan. 1.
On foot, Esakhnai said, people can listen to the COVID-19 Christmas song snippets through his speakers. People parked in their cars should turn their radios to 87.9 and can also see the lyrics, puns and short animations appear on a display screen.
“There hasn’t been a time where I’ve looked out and there wasn’t a car,” Esakhnai said. “There’s constantly cars parking all the way down the street and everywhere, to (the point) where I had to put cones out so people don’t park right in front of the house because then it blocks everyone else’s view.”
Candy canes, snowflakes and Christmas trees also light up and flash a variety of colors to the music. Thanks to snow machines and three fans, white powder falls around the house, too. Friday night, a number of children frolicked among the flakes.
Other years, Esakhnai drives up to the Sonora area and brings back real snow for snowmen, but this month’s weather has yet to enable the decoration.
Esakhnai works as a handyman and said he found the COVID-19 holiday jokes online. He programmed the altered songs and announcer voice, so it is not him singing.
The family decorates the house every Christmas, but his daughters have become more interested in helping as he makes the display more elaborate each year. Mikayla, 13, and Alexa, 10, also sometimes pass out candy canes, Esakhnai said.
Last year, the family put on a COVID-19-themed holiday display with jumping gingerbread men, Esakhnai said, but completely changed it for 2021.
He turns on the display every night from 5 to 10 p.m. and plans to take it down Jan. 2. The best view is from across the street, to take it all in, he said.
Visitors may have to bide their time if they want to hear the COVID Christmas part of the light show. His playlist includes many other pieces, including “Carol of the Bells,” Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and music from “Star Wars” and “The Polar Express.”
This story was originally published December 12, 2021 at 11:35 AM.
