BRITE IDEAS DECORATING GIVES SNEAK PEEK OF CHRISTMASLAND DRIVE-THRU TO LOCAL SALVATION ARMY OFFICIALS
By Joe Harris /
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OMAHA, Neb.—It really is a winter wonderland of Christmas lights in Valley, Nebraska.
On Wednesday, Nov. 5, that’s where The Salvation Army of Omaha and Brite Ideas Decorating gave key stakeholders an early tour of ChristmasLand. The new holiday lights drive-thru officially opened Nov. 13.
Brite Ideas owner Travis Freeman built the venue on a 70-acre plot near the 252nd Street exit off of Highway 275 – just east of Valley – and those who attended the tour marveled at his work.
“We're able to experience and share this new and unique venue—ChristmasLand—that Travis has created, and we're really grateful that he's sharing that with us," said Barb Farho, The Salvation Army Western Division’s senior philanthropy director.
“I said to several people already tonight that if you don't walk away from this place already feeling in the Christmas spirit, then I'm not sure exactly what to do,” Salvation Army Maj. Dan Sawka said. “Your heart can't be small when you walk through ChristmasLand."
The finished spectacle was also something to behold for Freeman himself.
"It actually is a dream come true of mine that I've been thinking about for such a long time,” he said.
"I can't wait to drive through it,” Farho said. “I'm only seeing it just standing here. I haven't driven through it yet, but it's so magical and I can't wait to bring my family. And we really hope that everyone who was here tonight is able to come back multiple times throughout the season and enjoy it with their friends and family."
In addition to leading the holiday efforts at Brite Ideas and ChristmasLand, Freeman is also chairing the 2025 Tree of Lights Campaign, which is The Salvation Army of Omaha’s largest fundraising effort of the year. As part of his work in leading the campaign, Freeman has pledged to give a portion of every 2025-season ChristmasLand admission to the nonprofit group.
“When we asked him to be our Tree of Lights campaign chair and he said, 'Yes,' I was absolutely over the moon," Sawka said.
"For him to be willing to give a portion of every car that comes through to The Salvation Army Tree of Lights, that just—to me—proves exactly who he is,” Sawka said. “He's a person who cares for his community, and he's a person who wants to make sure that the Christmas spirit is giving joy for everybody in the metro area.”
“Our hope is to get 25,000 cars through the drive-thru this year,” Freeman said. “I think the need is greater this year than a lot of years; there are a lot of people just struggling to keep food on their table. So I think this year—more than ever—we're really hoping people come out, people support The Salvation Army, and support the Tree of Lights Campaign.”
He added that he believes ChristmasLand will be a place families will make a trip to annually.
"Kids, grandkids, moms and dads—I think it's going to be a yearly tradition that is going to keep building."
ChristmasLand’s inaugural season extends into early January 2026. For more information, go to christmaslandvalley.com.