Simplified: Josh Hayes has a knack for logistics – something that's helpful during his day job as an instructional designer in the healthcare sector. But it also comes in handy during the holidays when he creates an annual, optimized route of Christmas light displays across Sioux Falls.

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The idea first came to Hayes in 2019, after he and his wife spent hours driving around trying to find the best light displays around town. After a couple hours driving with little success, they were feeling disappointed, Hayes said.

Then, in 2020, the couple welcomed their first daughter in November, and during one of many late-night feeding sessions, Hayes had an idea.

"Something that came to my mind was of that past year and how there was a need – there was a gap for an official Christmas light map or an optimized route," he said. "That operations side of my brain started spinning."

Hayes compiled a list of all of the lights displays around town that he knew about, including finding some on social media, and he created a map not knowing he was also creating a new tradition.

  • Hayes shared the map on Facebook, and within hours it was starting to take off, getting shared by friends across town.

How has it grown?

Now, it's an annual tradition – growing to the point where there's more locations submitted than can be included on the list.

  • Only 25 locations are selected for the list, and Hayes personally vets each one and grades them on a rubric he created.
"It's funny how competitive it gets," Hayes said.

This year, Hayes started the Sioux Falls Christmas website and Facebook page as a way to share not only the holiday light displays but also other festive events happening around town.

Greg and Shawn Nosbush dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus (Submitted photo)

Who's on the route?

Folks like Greg and Shawn Nosbush – a couple who commits so hard to holiday celebrations, their doorbell rings out "Deck the Halls."

  • The Nosbushes have a collection of about 180 Christmas-themed blow molds that fill their yard in southwest Sioux Falls, and once a year, the couple dresses like Santa and Mrs. Claus to hand out candy canes.
"To me, it's a lot of fun just to sit at the table, look out the back door and see how many people drive by and stop and take pictures," Greg said.

The route also features the Winter Wonderland display at Falls Park, which city staff said includes 29 miles of lights.

You can see the full route via Google Maps here:

What else do I need to know?

You can find the full list of this year's displays here.

The route is intended to take about two hours to drive, and the hope is you'll see lights all along the way.

Hayes doesn't make any money compiling the list, but if anyone wants to show their gratitude for his labor of love, he encourages folks to donate to Faith Temple Food Giveaway.