The Grimes family has lit more than half a million Christmas lights across their yard and, for the second year in a row, are inviting the local community to walk through and enjoy the “Lights on Trotters” display.

Shannon and Aaron Grimes and their older son Tanner, 14, put the lights up this year.

“Aaron is the mastermind of how we set up the light display,” Shannon Grimes said.

The Grimes’ younger son, Carson, age 8, has a rare genetic mutation called GRIN1. He struggles with vision and epilepsy, among other impairments, but this doesn’t impede his enjoyment of his family’s holiday lights.

Shannon Grimes says Carson really loves the lights, and the family likes to share this joy with others.

“Aaron and I have been doing Christmas lights for almost 20 years. It has progressed ever since,” she said. “We used to do Christmas lights to music a while back before everyone else started doing it. Our display was called ‘Rocking Christmas Lights.’”

After Carson was born, the family stopped putting up the lights, Grimes said.

“At first we didn’t know anything was wrong with Carson, and then he started declining. He was actually put on hospice for nine months before we had a diagnosis. He went from taking a bottle to aspirating and choking on everything. Christmas was on the back burner at that point.

“Carson has a rare genetic condition called GRIN1. It actually happened spontaneously at conception. Aaron and I don’t carry it. He was one of 50 with it when he was born and now that number has grown tremendously because of science and the ability to detect very rare genetic mutations. He has muscle weakness and is completely tube-fed now,” she said. “He has nursing care now during the day when he is home, and he receives regular respiratory treatments around the clock.”

In 2020, the Grimes family moved into their new house on Trotters Lane in Rockville. As the holiday season approached, they decided they wanted to do a new light display.

“We thought about what Carson would like,” Shannon said. “We had always done a large light display, and Carson absolutely loves lights. We thought ‘he can stroll through this display—we can wheel him through this display, and he would absolutely love it.’ And we love doing it. It is our passion.”

Visitors are welcome to stroll through the walk-through display this season. They can park on the street, and then walk through the Grimes’ driveway and sidewalk, which is handicap accessible.

“Last year we had half a million lights, and this year there will be more,” Grimes said.

This year the Grimes family is fundraising for CureGRIN, which is a parent-led foundation. There is not a lot of knowledge about GRIN yet.

According to curegrin.org, GRIN is a genetic disorder that parents can notice when infants begin to miss developmental milestones. Children can often be diagnosed before the age of 2. However, without a genetic diagnosis, some individuals are incorrectly diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autism and other genetic neurodevelopment disorders such as Angelman syndrome. It is usually not a hereditary disorder.

The CureGRIN Foundation provides support to individuals with the disorder and their families through education and information. Its mission is to find treatments and cures through research, education and support.

Guests can visit “Lights on Trotters” through Jan. 1.

The display at 1428 Trotters Ln. in Rockville is open for visitors Mondays through Thursdays from 5–9 p.m. and Fridays through Sundays 5–10 p.m.

The walk-through display is free, though donations for CureGRIN are welcome.

For more information find the Lights on Trotters Facebook page.