The whiz behind Southampton light show is just 13. And he's been at it for awhile

Sheri Berkery | Cherry Hill Courier-Post

Show Caption Hide Caption SEE: Colorful lights display in Burlington County Synchronized lights display is one of many around South Jersey this holiday season.

SOUTHAMPTON - Just like most serious Christmas decorators, Wesley Allison begins his work months in advance.

Sure, he's upped his game by programming lights to music. And he keeps up with decorating trends, adding pixel lights and a driveway arch.

It's nothing that unusual ... expect that Wesley is 13.

And this isn't the first year that he's designed an ambitious Christmas display.

"He had this passion for lights. He always loved Christmas lights," said Janice Cooper, Wesley's grandmother.

At just 5 or 6 years old, Wesley began working with his grandfather, Steve Cooper, to display Christmas inflatables and decorate a "Wesley tree."

"He started learning programming three or four years ago, real basic stuff," Janice Cooper said.

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Wesley's canvas has always been his grandparents' Southampton home and the 1-½ acres or so around it.

And the teen is grateful for how his family has encouraged his interest.

"For years I would decorate my grandparents' basement with elaborate Christmas designs, lights and anything that turned on. I called it 'My Picnic.' This took a lot of patience on my grandparents' part," Wesley said via email.

His grandmom remembers those days well.

"There would be lights strung everywhere if I wasn't paying attention."

Now that Wesley's work is on public display, anyone driving past Hunters Lane can enjoy it.

"I hope everyone likes it and it makes them happy," Wesley said.

The roof of the single-family home is outlined with lights. As music plays, lights dance on multiple trees, a driveway arch and a perimeter of candy canes. And there's plenty more to look at, including snowman and Santa figures, and a nativity scene.

"There's a crazy amount of cords. It looks like Griswold's Christmas lights," said Cooper.

Coordinating all of this would be daunting for most adults, but Wesley — the oldest of four siblings — makes it sound easy.

The process involved "lots of trial and error," said the teen, who is homeschooled. "Learning the computer programming was following the instructions and online technical support. Also electrical manuals."

Curiosity about electrical systems began very early.

"We would go down the shore and go to one Christmas store, and he'd been on his knees at 2 or 3 years old, looking at the connections," Cooper said.

Now, at 13, Wesley has career goals.

"I want to be an electrician or do something with computers. I'd like to have my own business."

It would be called Allison Tech, Wesley said.

For now, Wesley's grandparents are helping the budding entrepreneur to streamline his vision.

"A few years ago, we had him start drawing on a piece of paper where to put the blow-ups and lights," Cooper said.

Their plans also have included an opportunity to help their community: Those who visit the light display are invited to donate scarves, hats, gloves, socks, thermals and toiletries for women and/or men in need. Collections are donated on the front porch.

Wesley particularly likes the charitable aspect of the holiday set-up, which he said "has grown considerably each year."

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"Two years ago we incorporated a computer-driven software program, with a Christmas-designated computer. I programmed the dancing lights to the songs," he noted. "Last year we added roof lights. And this year we added a driveway arch and pixel lights. All required extra programming. This year is our best display yet and the most complicated."

Wesley would actually like to see the display expand even more, but grandma ran over that idea.

"He says, 'We're going to make it bigger,' and I am kind of the one who put the brakes on that," Cooper said. "It's big enough!"

In fact, the display has gotten so large that it's impossible to do all the manual work without assistance. Wesley gave a big shout-out "to my brother Dexter and my Uncle Eli who show up every year to help."

"My family from Michigan and Florida jumped in this year to help too."

See part of the Southampton light show in video below.

Cooper remains in awe of how her young grandson designs the extravagant display. "It's all him," she said. "I'd be lucky if I put up a Christmas tree."

The sentimental favorite of the display — the "Wesley tree" that it all began with — returns every year. And now Wesley's siblings have their own trees as well.

Cooper said she hopes Wesley looks back on his early Christmases fondly.

"I hope he will have good memories of this ... that we did this for him."

It seems as if he already does.

"I like that it brings my family together," Wesley said.

Sheri Berkery is the trending reporter at the Courier-Post, covering the topics that people are talking about on social media and in real life. If you think you have a story idea that’s a “talker,” contact her at 856.486.2673 or sberkery@gannettnj.com

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