Glow Big or Glow Home: Chesterfield’s Unique Holiday Program Boosts Local Tourism

Published on December 23, 2025

With its new innovative program, “Glow Big or Glow Home,” Chesterfield, Virginia, is turning the holiday season into a big tourism attraction. It will bring festive home decorations along with major local events, such as the annual Chesterfield County Tacky Light Run, to attract visitors and boost tourism in the area. The program is a shining example of how local communities can capitalize on holiday spirit and seasonal traditions to make money and bring in tourists.

A Home Decked Out for the Holidays
At the heart of this new holiday tradition is Tyler Colbert’s home, located at the junction of Glenshade Drive and Glenpark Lane in Walton Park, a prime location for the Tacky Light Run. For the past decade, Colbert has been decorating his house with extravagant displays, gradually building up an impressive collection of lights, inflatables, animatronic characters, and even holograms of beloved characters like the Grinch. His decorations have become a staple of the Tacky Light Run, which draws thousands of participants each year to Chesterfield’s streets to admire these festive creations.

Colbert’s holiday displays take two weeks to set up each year, as he and his family carefully arrange lights, statues, and characters that bring joy to passersby. “Things are always breaking — especially lights — and being out here in the cold for a whole month, things tend to break,” Colbert said. “You’re always having to replace stuff.” However, the effort is worth it as his home becomes one of the most visited spots in the area during the holiday season.

While his decorations have been a local favorite for years, Colbert’s participation in the “Glow Big or Glow Home” initiative has made his home a key part of the county’s tourism strategy. The program has expanded the impact of local holiday displays by connecting them with other regional festivities and promoting Chesterfield as a destination for winter tourism.

A County-Wide Effort to Spur Tourism
The “Glow Big or Glow Home” initiative is not just about individual homes like Colbert’s. The county has enlisted local restaurants and hotels to participate in the holiday festivities, creating a comprehensive tourism package that supports both the local economy and holiday tourism. Chesterfield has already secured a $10,000 matching grant from the state to fund the program, allowing it to reach a wider audience and enhance its offerings.

“This program is part of a broader effort to showcase Chesterfield as a holiday destination,” explained Liz Hart, a spokesperson for Experience Chesterfield, the county’s tourism and entertainment department. Hart noted that the program is helping local businesses benefit from the influx of visitors, with restaurants and hotels seeing increased foot traffic and bookings as a result of the holiday festivities.

Lauren Barbaro, chief creative officer of DJB Hospitality, which operates local restaurants like Napa Kitchen and Wine and Sedona Taphouse, emphasized how the program has elevated the local holiday experience. “We really wanted to take it over the top and be like Christmas just threw up,” Barbaro said, referring to the vibrant, over-the-top holiday decorations that are a key feature of the program.

By integrating holiday decorations into a county-wide tourism strategy, Chesterfield is successfully leveraging the festive spirit to drive more visitors to the region, benefiting local businesses and making the area a must-visit location during the holiday season.

The Impact on Local Tourism and Economy
The “Glow Big or Glow Home” program has already made a significant impact on Chesterfield’s tourism. The Tacky Light Run, one of the main events in the area, brings thousands of people to the region each year, and the expanded holiday offerings are expected to increase visitor numbers in 2026. Colbert’s house, with its extravagant lights, is just one example of how individual residents can contribute to the broader tourism economy. By encouraging others to participate, Chesterfield has created a collective effort that enhances the holiday experience for everyone.

The program also supports local restaurants and hotels by promoting special holiday events and meals. Restaurants such as Napa Kitchen and Wine and Sedona Taphouse have benefited from the program’s tourism initiatives, with more customers flocking to these establishments during the holiday season. Visitors from out of town are booking rooms at local hotels, contributing to the overall growth of Chesterfield’s hospitality industry.

A Family Tradition of Holiday Spirit
For Colbert, holiday decorating is a personal tradition that has grown with the years. “I’ve always loved Christmas. Always my favorite holiday,” he shared. “It’s the only time of the year where you can really deck out your house outside without neighbors really caring or being mad at you.” His enthusiasm for the holiday season has turned his home into a destination for locals and tourists alike, and through the “Glow Big or Glow Home” initiative, his love for Christmas decorations has become part of a larger effort to boost Chesterfield’s tourism and economy.

While Colbert continues to decorate his home regardless of the program’s involvement, his participation in “Glow Big or Glow Home” has brought even more attention to his festive displays, contributing to the program’s success. The initiative has shown how community-based efforts, when paired with regional tourism strategies, can create lasting economic benefits and enhance the local cultural experience.

Chesterfield: A Must-Visit Holiday Destination

“Glow Big or Glow Home” of Chesterfield is a novel initiative that helps integrate local culture with tourist activities. Encouraging locals to light up their homes and aligning this with events such as the Tacky Light Run has resulted in Chesterfield being a distinct destination for holidaying during tourist season. Also assisted by financial inputs from the state and local businesses, Chesterfield is poised to become a destination that no tourist can resist visiting during holidays.