During his childhood years, Stan Winman was always fascinated with Christmas lights.

Today, that fascination has grown into an extraordinary 250,000-plus Christmas Lighting Spectacular at Praise Tabernacle located at 330 Park Avenue in Cranston.

“We started doing outside lighting around 2016-17 on a limited basis.” Winman related. “Originally, it was to kick off the Christmas season and help promote our annual Christmas Show (that will be held this weekend Dec. 15-17).”

However, in 2020 due to COVID, Praise Tabernacle was not able to have the Christmas Show but as Winman offered “we used the lighting as the show and each year we try to take it to another level.”

 “We try to sprinkle the true meaning of Christmas through the lights, which is the Birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior -- Jesus is the reason for the season,” said Winman, who has attended Praise Tabernacle for 18 years and been on staff the past nine years. “Everything we do is to build relationships with local communities and let them know God is their friend. It is so awesome meeting new people and establishing new friendships.”

The Christmas Lighting Spectacular completely surrounds Praise Tabernacle – which is 50 years old and was originally located on Magnolia Street in Cranston but moved to Park Avenue 10 years ago – and families come and enjoy the fire pit, rocking horse, sleigh and hot coco and snacks. There’s also candy cane hunts, a gingerbread house contest, Christmas karaoke and visits from Santa.

 In all, there are upwards of 400 different decorations and there’s even special Christmas messages – in lights – affixed to Praise Tabernacle as well as a giant inflatable snowman.

  People who’d like to experience all the lights can walk all around Praise Tabernacle or drive their vehicles through the famed archway to view the lights and there are many places where people can take family photos.

 When asked how long it took to set up the lighting spectacular, Winman replied: “We started putting up approximately 250,000 lights on October 23 and it took around 25 volunteers and 350-plus man hours to complete setting up all the lights.”

 The inside of Praise Tabernacle – where the Christmas Spectacular Show will be held – is also aglow with many decorations and people marvel at the seemingly unmatched creativity that continues to amaze young and old alike,

 As for this weekend’s Christmas Spectacular Show, Winman said “it consists of a little bit of everything, traditional Christmas carols, Hip Hoop dancing, a rap song and so much more. The first half has a secular Christmas theme and the second half transitions in more of the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus our King.”

 Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday and admission is free.

 Winman, as people who attend Praise Tabernacle including Pastor Allen Pangburn will tell you, works on the Christmas lighting year-round whether it is making candy cane lights for the walkways or restoring older displays.

 “I think all the work throughout the year really paid off for a great experience,” said Winman. “Please come and see our show; the lights on on each night – weather permitting – at 4:30 p.m. and stay on until 6 a.m. This gives people who work nights a chance to see the lights.”

 Although some people make donations after seeing the Christmas Lighting Spectacular, Winman wanted it known: “We don’t charge for anything; the most important thing is for families to come here and enjoy themselves.”