If you’re ever in Laredo before 9:45 p.m. this month, you’ll have to see the Selena Quintanilla-themed Christmas light show on homeowner Tomas Rodriguez’s garage and yard.
If not, we have viral video here.
Rodriguez’s tribute is the latest holiday lights show to go viral on the internet. It rivals the Bidi Bidi Bom Bom Selena Christmas lights show in Boerne that went viral two years ago. Another Selena-themed Christmas light show in New Braunfels is also getting attention.
Rodriguez’s show features more than 32,000 synchronized LED pixel lights, a mega light tree and a digital sign that plays Selena’s 1995 performance at a Houston concert. The light show plays other Christmas tunes, but Selena’s songs seem to attract the most attention at 1431 Wilfrano Drive, less than a quarter-mile from the Rio Grande River.
As of Sunday, Rodriguez says the video has received 2.5 million views on his personal Facebook page and another 1.5 million on the Laredo Lights Facebook page.
“Our street is always packed,” he said.
The show also includes 28 Christmas songs. Because of the Selena segment’s popularity, Rodriguez put Como La Flor on the playlist twice.
Rodriguez was inspired by a San Antonio resident whose holiday lights video went viral. As an IT specialist in Laredo, Rodriguez had the skillset. Then, he got tips from other light-show enthusiasts online and built his setup.
“Selena came about because I had a cousin who said you should do something with Selena because it’s very popular,” Rodriguez says. “I said ‘sure, I’ll work on,’ so I started working on it, got some images, music, lights, and I put it up on Thursday, not expecting the response I was going to get.”
Rodriguez says Selena has a positive influence on a generation of Latina women and in the Hispanic community.
Comments on Rodriguez’ Facebook page reflect the sentiment:
“I love this so much! Gave me chills and almost made me cry! I love Selena! This is definitely the coolest Christmas decoration set up I’ve ever seen. ❤”
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