Imagine my surprise when I found out that the family who became famous in 2023 for decorating their house in Taylor Swift’s Christmas lights is back? And they have gone over the top.
Amy and Brian Scott have been planning like two criminals for four fortnights to build their Swiftmas house in Naperville, Illinois. In October, the couple went on a date night to a nearby restaurant and took notes on how to include three of Swift’s eras: Reputation, Folklore, and The Tortured Poets Department into their lights display.
These were some of the concepts that were included in the show; a “Folklore” cottage, a giant “Tortured Poets” typewriter, a “Look What You Made Me Do” display case and a tux clad Travis Kelce.
‘We began with the writing of the mission statement,’ Amy says, indicating the 20-feet mesh banners with the singer-songwriter smiling and holding her hands in the heart shape. The words written above Swift’s hands are, “Spread love and joy this holiday season.”
‘We took notes as we ate dinner and our brains were full of ideas,’ she says.
The ideas were grouped into his sixth, eighth and 11th generation. In the “Folklore” section, a cottage with moss on it recreates the set piece from the Eras Tour. The wood was collected from a neighbor’s bed frame that was dumped by the roadside. Another neighbor’s chandelier illuminates a stool and cardigan inside. At the foot of the cottage there are mushrooms and disco balls. Brian has his own printing business and therefore, he draws many of the quotes and placards found all over.
In the “Folklore” area is a sign shaped like a seven that reads, “Love you to the moon and to Saturn,” and another that makes an “Invisible String” lyric present-tense: It is said ‘One single thread of gold ties me to you.’
In the “Tortured Poets” section is a six-foot cardboard cutout of Swift in her white dress by Vivienne Westwood paired with Louboutin heels. On the bottom they glued red glitter. A typewriter, like the one used in the singer’s “Fortnight” video is the main stage. The keys are made of pickle jar lids, each. In the serif font is the message, “Wishing you a joyous, peaceful and loving holiday season.”
‘When she released ‘Tortured Poets,’ I think it was such an album to show the world that she’s human and she has real emotions and that it’s OK to not be OK,’ Amy says. “And what a strong message that is to anyone having a struggle in their life.”
On the far left is the “Reputation” era with a glass case of silhouette of swift dressed in her shiny red-and-black concert catsuit holding a red rotary phone. A cardboard of a Jaguar E-Type car has an Illinois license plate that reads “GETAWAY” referring to Track 9 of the album. Beside the words “You’re So Gorgeous”, there is a pair of shimmery red lips.
Icicle and snowflake lights illuminate the rooftop that a visitor will find a silhouette of Travis Kelce holding a light-up ‘Taylor’s Version’ sign. He is wearing the three-piece suit he wore on June 23 in Wembley Stadium.
Emily, one of the Scotts’ daughters, wishes that Swift could see the photos or videos of the beautiful setup. ‘I would hope that she would be in awe and love that we’re doing this,’ she says.
Going Viral In 2023
Last year, the Naperville house highlighted four of the singer’s other eras: These are Red, Speak Now, 1989 and Evermore. The festive display went viral in the same manner that a diesel-desire fire spreads with fans rushing to the suburban house in the glittering droves. Not even Google Maps remained neutral as the family’s address was updated to the “Swiftmas House.”
“We didn’t know the whole world was going to see it,” Brian says joking that they would have invested more time and effort into the already elaborate show. Some would spend hours here and just sing songs. There was a lot of togetherness and exchange of friendship bands. That’s really what we want.”
The front yard is filled with QR codes that lead people to a fundraiser for Little Friends, an organization that supports individuals with autism or developmental disability and their families.
The display will be up through the end of the year. When asked if they’re going to continue the Swift-inspired tradition, the family said likely not.
This is how daughter Becca Scott sums her feelings: “I think this might be it.”
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