Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1541815
December 2025/January 2026 | maconmagazine.com 87 It's all in a day's work for this crew, which is greatly appreciated by Rob Ryals, the director of Facilities Management. Ryals is a pleasant man with a distinctive handlebar mustache who has seen a lot of changes in the almost dozen years since Macon and Bibb County consolidated in 2014. It's been a challenge since day one," Ryals said. "Consolidation didn't help us at all." Prior to merging the two governments, the crew of electricians, he explains, was comprised of up to eight employees, instead of the current four. He especially mentioned Smith, the manager, whom he initially hired at a lower level due to the hiring freeze. "He was overqualified," Ryals said of Smith. ILLUMINATING A TRUE TASTE OF MACON Another person who is key to lighting up the area is Bryan Nichols, but his decorative work is primarily done seasonally. Nichols designs the Christmas display of lights downtown on Poplar and Third Streets, illuminating the area with over one million lights. The job is massive, and Nichols and some helpers began stringing lights on September 21 for this season. Nichols describes himself as "just a normal guy who loves Macon," and has been doing light displays for 16 years. This is the ninth year he has strung lights for the downtown light show. The Christmas lights are versatile, as they also supplied the lighting downtown for a runway show during Macon Fashion Week in early November. "Every year we add more lights and more blocks and displays. At one point you could just say 1.3 million. We just say over a million." He usually gets volunteers to help him; some even call him to offer their assistance. One standout is a gentleman he calls Mr. Al, who has helped him every year. Music is also included in the Christmas light display, which debuted on November 28, synchronized with live music from Macon Pops. This will be the eighth year the 40-piece orchestra has supplied live music at the opening. Nichols, who owns businesses downtown like the Macon Rocks indoor rock-climbing wall next to Capricorn Records, said 14 songs will be included in each of four shows per night, for 40 nights through the New Year. "When visitors come, they get a true taste of Macon," Nichols said about the show. "I don't know if it's one of the largest shows on the East Coast, but it's got to be up there. Last year it had an economic impact of $1.7 million dollars, with over 685,000 "They are employees of the Macon- Bibb County Facilities Management Department, charged with keeping more than 3,000 lights in the county up and running." ABOVE A drone shot shows how the entire crew is needed to carry the poles. RIGHT: The team works out of a large, warehouse-like building. Wondering how an issue around you can be repaired? Make a report to See Click Fix at maconbibb.us/seeclickfix