The holiday light display that shines a light on 'ability,' not 'disability'

KCLU | By Caroline Feraday

Published December 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM PST

Over 50,000 holiday lights are on display at a non-profit which provides a supportive place to live for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Santa Barbara. — More than 50,000 holiday lights are on display at a nonprofit organization that provides a supportive living environment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Santa Barbara.

More than 50,000 holiday lights are on display at a nonprofit organization that provides a supportive living environment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Santa Barbara.

There’s no place like home for the holidays, and for 59 residents, Hillside in Santa Barbara is that home.

"Our residents live with a wide range of diagnoses from Cerebral Palsy to Down syndrome, and many of them have additional medical limitations that make day-to-day living pretty challenging," explained Angela De Bruyn from Hillside.

Their annual display of over 50,000 holiday lights focuses on illuminating residents’ abilities and sharing who they are and what they can do.

"The display just keeps getting bigger and bigger. We really wanna shine a light on the abilities of the 59 individuals who call Hillside home," said De Bruyn.

The family-friendly holiday event takes place at the Hillside property on Veronica Springs Road in Santa Barbara, daily after sunset until December 31.