Meet The Man Behind Cedar City’s Dazzling Christmas Lights

For two decades, Cedar City resident Ben Hohman has transformed his home—and much of the surrounding neighborhood—into a glowing maze of Christmas lights, vintage decorations, and whimsical holiday scenes. What began as a personal passion for the season has become a beloved community tradition, with thousands walking through the Hohman property each December. And every year, those twinkling lights help raise money for a cause close to his heart: Make-A-Wish Utah.

Hohman joined the Big Picture Morning Show on KSUB radio to talk about the display’s 20th anniversary, joking with the host that his enthusiasm for lighting up the neighborhood might qualify him for stock in Rocky Mountain Power. When asked how long he has been at it, he replied simply, “It’s our 20th year.”

The display’s purpose has remained clear throughout those two decades. “We’re doing it for the Make-A-Wish of Utah,” Hohman said. “We’ve been doing it for 20 years. We’ve raised over $35,000 for the charity.” His love of the holiday season helped spark the tradition. “I love Christmas. My wife loves Christmas. We say we do it for the kids, for the charity, but we add more decorations every year, both inside and out.”

A New 20 Foot Snowman Highlights The Display This Year

This year, visitors will be greeted by a towering new centerpiece. “We have a nearly 20-foot inflatable snowman kind of towering over the backyard that a friend bought for me after Christmas last year,” Hohman said. He confessed he hopes the wind cooperates, noting the giant figure has been “staked down and attached up as best we can.”

The show also incorporates animated elements and synchronized lights. “We have a couple little metal sculptures that animate and have motion,” he said. “We also have two computer controllers that allow some of the lights in the front and the back to dance to Christmas songs.”

Putting on the display is no small task. “About 400 hours,” Hohman said when asked how long setup takes. Each evening requires maintenance as well. “Every night something doesn’t work,” he admitted. “We’re going to be at about 72,000 - 73,000 lights because every night something doesn’t work.”

Hohman’s connection to Make-A-Wish goes back decades. “Probably 25 years ago, I was asked to help them with their Iron County Christmas party,” he said. He later trained as a wish granter, an experience that was both powerful and difficult. “It was kind of too traumatic for me,” he said, adding that he now supports the organization through events like his annual display.

Visitors typically spend 5 to 15 minutes exploring the property, enjoying both long-standing features and new surprises. For Hohman, the joy comes from seeing families experience the season together. “It’s a lot of fun to hear, especially when multi-generations of families come through together,” he said.

Read More: 10,000 People Show Up To Turn The Lights On Downtown

The display is open nightly from 5:30 to 10 p.m. through December 31 at 26 North 1150 West in Cedar City. Donations can be made onsite through cash, check, Venmo at Ben’s Light Display, or via a QR code linking directly to Make-A-Wish.

As Hohman summed it up with a laugh, the project is “a lot of fun” and “maybe a little insanity from time to time,” but it has become a cherished part of Cedar City’s Christmas season.

You can hear our entire interview with Ben Hohman in the podcast below.

Keep scrolling to see some pictures from this years display.