Batavia Family Brightens Neighbors' Spirits With Light Show

@LightsOnEkman 2020 Quarantine Launch from Brett Foy on Vimeo.

BATAVIA, IL — After spreading joy for the past five years with their dazzling lights displays around Christmastime, the Foy family of Batavia is back at it. Brett Foy, with help from his wife and children, has set up another light show to cheer up neighbors during Illinois’ coronavirus lockdown.

Since April 4, dozens of vehicles have parked along Ekman Road in Batavia, allowing locals to enjoy the display while remaining safe and socially distanced. The family puts on multiple shows each night for up to 10 cars at a time, Heather Foy said.

During the Foys’ five years in Batavia, they have become well-known for their holiday-lights displays, leading to some recognition from Kidlist, an online resource for families in Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs. Kidlist recently asked the Foys to set up the display to give families something to do, and the family jumped at the chance.

Foy said her husband, Brett, spent about three weeks working to create the 12-minute medley show, which features “uplifting” songs like the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” and Flo Rida’s “Good Feeling.”

After the family was unable to put up the display for Christmas last year, 11-year-old Sierra Foy grasped the opportunity to make up for it this spring. Sierra helped her father make and set up the display’s props and starred in videos to get the word out, Foy said, who added her 14-year-old son, Braden, has been doing much of the sound mixing for the display.

The family’s long hours working on the display have been rewarded by the sight of people singing and dancing alongside their cars or through their sunroofs, Foy said.

“That makes it worth it,” Foy said. “It’s wonderful. It’s why we do it.”

Each year, the family asks viewers for donations on behalf of a local organization. This year, the family is collecting money for the Batavia Mothers’ Club Foundation.

Though the traffic is lighter than Christmastime, when cars line up around the block for a chance to see the display, the family is putting it on show from 7-10 p.m. each night, with plans to continue through at least the end of April, Foy said.

“We’ll keep it running as long as we have people coming,” Foy said.

The family has also posted videos of the display on the Lights on Ekman Facebook page for those who are unable to travel to Batavia.

“I live down the street and wanted to say thank you!!! I love this,” a neighbor commented on a video of the display.

“We can’t wait to see it! Thank you Foy family for being a light in the darkness!!” another commenter wrote on Facebook.

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