A new way to brighten your night

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — ‘Tis the season! With Labor Day in the rearview mirror, people will soon begin lighting up the night in celebration of Christmas and New Year, and that’s just the tip of the bulb.

The rules of outdoor holiday lighting have changed. They’re going on earlier than ever, meaning they’re going up even sooner. It’s an August project for Raine Jerke, not November or December.

“It’s already snowed, there could be ice, there could be weather that you’re dealing with, so for guys like myself we like to get it done early when the weather’s good,” Bright Brothers Lighting co-owner Raine Jerke said.

And the twinkling lights are no longer exclusive to Christmas.

“We also do one for Halloween, and for the Fourth of July I usually have the house in red, white, and blue of course,” Raine said.

This year it doesn’t end there. Raine is working on a Vikings-themed, purple and gold home.

“If we’ve got any Packer fans out there that want to do green and yellow, let me know (laugh),” Raine said.

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Raine is the man behind the bulbs. He started decorating his house a decade ago, but fell in love with Christmas lights as a kid, touring Candy Cane Lane in Sioux Falls.

“As I got older, I felt like I could do that for myself, my children, and my neighborhoods,” Raine said.

His passion for lights is now a business.

“I just had a lot of people over the years ask me if I could decorate their home as well,” Raine said.

He and his brother, Jordan Jerke, recently started Bright Brothers Lighting, a holiday and event lighting company.

“This was just a great opportunity that it was something we both love,” Bright Brothers Lighting co-owner Jordan said.

“I’ve got a couple daughters, one and five, and really wanted to put up something that looked special this year, and Raine and I have been talking about the potential for a business opportunity taking what he does to the next level and so we figured this was the perfect opportunity this year for us to partner up,” Jordan said.

Jordan says the list of services extends from design and install to maintenance and removal.

“Nobody wants to deal with getting on a roof in the winter with cold or even the teardown in January. Nobody wants to be out and about taking care of that. We can make life easier for everyone, and I think that a lot of people are going to take a lot of value in that,” Jordan said.

The Jerkes will be busy this fall, but Raine will still decorate nine homes in his neighborhood, including the Stroman’s.

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“The lights bring my kids so much joy and it’s so fun to see other families driving by too, and friends of ours driving by and greeting them and having them watch the light show with us,” Sioux Falls resident Chantel Stroman said.

Stroman has three kids, including 2-year-old Bryah, and wants to see the Jerkes succeed.

“Special gift that Raine has, and him working with his brother is pretty special too, so I’m excited for them,” Stroman said.

The show within the cul-de-sac is the focal point of a holiday fundraiser that raises thousands of dollars every winter.

“This year, we’re going to be doing the Boys & Girls Club of the Sioux Empire again, so I’m really excited for that and for them,” Raine said.

Raine will continue to raise money for local causes with his project here in Brande Park Circle, but the giving will expand into Bright Brothers Lighting.

“Some type of giving back where you can nominate a family that’s deserving of a Christmas installation but maybe don’t have the means to afford that,” Raine said.

Whether it’s lighting up his own house for a fundraiser or decorating for the new business, what Raine looks forward to most is the end result.

“When you see the lights all lit up and we’ve got the hot chocolate stand going and there’s kids milling around and just enjoying it, listening to the music, watching the lights. That’s the biggest payoff for me is just that final product,” Raine said.

For a complete list of services or to request a free quote from Bright Brothers Lighting, click HERE.