Memorial Day weekend in the Sacramento region means flags on front porches, family barbecues in El Dorado Hills backyards, and neighborhood gatherings from Empire Ranch to East Sacramento. It’s also one of the few weekends each year when a single, simple gesture from a homeowner can stop a neighbor in their tracks: a house lit up in red, white, and blue to honor the men and women who gave everything in service to this country.
At Happy Lites, this weekend matters to us in a way it doesn’t to most lighting companies. We’re a veteran-owned business based right here in Folsom. Memorial Day isn’t a marketing opportunity for us — it’s personal. And every May, we get the same question from homeowners across Sacramento, Roseville, Granite Bay, and the surrounding communities:
“Can I light my house in red, white, and blue for Memorial Day weekend — without putting up temporary lights every year?”
The answer is yes. And it takes about 30 seconds from your phone.
Why Permanent Roofline Lighting Has Replaced Stick-On Patriotic Lights
For decades, homeowners who wanted to display patriotic colors had two options: hang temporary string lights every May (and again every July 4th), or skip it entirely. Both are gone now.
Permanent outdoor lighting systems like JellyFish Lighting and Haven Lighting install once, hide along your roofline, and let you switch the entire exterior of your home to any color combination from an app. Memorial Day morning, you tap “Patriotic” on your phone. Sunday night, you tap it off. No ladders. No tangled extension cords. No taking anything down.
In Sacramento’s climate, this matters even more. With Memorial Day temperatures already pushing into the upper 80s and 90s this year, nobody wants to be on a ladder hanging temporary lights. Permanent systems handle the heat (and the winter rain) without issue, and they last 10+ years.
What “Patriotic Mode” Actually Looks Like
Both JellyFish Lighting and Haven Lighting come preloaded with patriotic color patterns. The most popular options our Sacramento customers run during Memorial Day weekend:
- Solid red, white, and blue alternating along the roofline (classic and high-impact)
- Slow color fade between the three colors (subtle and elegant)
- Star-spangled twinkle pattern (great for homes with kids)
- Wave pattern that mimics a flag rippling in the wind
- Solid blue with white accent points on architectural features (modern and understated)
You can also build custom patterns from scratch — every individual LED node is addressable, so the level of control is closer to a stadium lighting system than traditional Christmas lights.
The Sacramento Neighborhoods Going All-In This Year
Memorial Day decorating has quietly become competitive in some of our local neighborhoods. A few we’ve seen go particularly hard with patriotic lighting:
- Empire Ranch (Folsom) — multiple JellyFish-equipped homes coordinate their patterns each year
- Serrano (El Dorado Hills) — the rolling hills make multi-house displays visible for miles
- Stone Point and West Park (Roseville) — newer developments where permanent lighting has become a neighborhood standard
- Whitney Oaks (Rocklin) — large lots and architecturally distinct homes show off color patterns beautifully
- Granite Bay’s Los Lagos community — Memorial Day display has become an annual tradition
If you’re in one of these communities and considering permanent lighting, this is the year. Installations typically take one day, and we can have you live-in-color for Memorial Day weekend if scheduled before May 22.
More Than Memorial Day: The Full Calendar of Patriotic Holidays
Memorial Day kicks off what we call the “patriotic stretch” of the year. Once your permanent lighting is installed, you’ll also be ready for:
- Flag Day — June 14
- Independence Day — July 4
- Patriot Day — September 11
- Veterans Day — November 11
That’s five red, white, and blue display nights per year, automatic, scheduled in advance, with no setup or takedown. For a lot of our customers, this alone justifies the install.
A Personal Note From the Happy Lites Team
Happy Lites is veteran-owned. That’s not a marketing tagline for us — it’s how we run the business. Memorial Day is the most important holiday on our calendar.
If you served, or if you have family who served, mention it during your consultation. We have a standing veteran appreciation discount that we don’t advertise publicly — it’s our small way of saying thank you.
How to Get Ready for Memorial Day Weekend 2026
Already have permanent lighting installed?
Open your app this week and schedule your patriotic display now. Set it to activate Friday, May 22 at sunset, and run through Monday, May 25. Most systems let you schedule multiple holidays at once — go ahead and queue up Flag Day, July 4, and Veterans Day while you’re in there.
Considering installation?
We have limited install slots remaining before Memorial Day weekend. Free consultations typically take 30-45 minutes at your home, and we’ll walk through both JellyFish and Haven options to find the right fit for your roofline, your budget, and your aesthetic preferences.
Call us at 916) 214-8585, or submit and online Inquiry. Mention Memorial Day to get priority scheduling.
Memorial Day Lighting FAQ
Can I get permanent outdoor lighting installed before Memorial Day weekend?
Yes, if scheduled by May 22. Happy Lites typically completes installations in one day, weather permitting. Book your consultation this week to lock in a Memorial Day install slot.
How much does permanent outdoor lighting cost in Sacramento?
Pricing depends on the linear footage of your roofline and which system you choose. Most single-family homes in the Sacramento region fall between $4,500 and $9,500 for a complete JellyFish or Haven install. We provide free in-home estimates with no obligation.
Do JellyFish lights work in Sacramento summer heat?
Yes. Both JellyFish and Haven systems are rated for the temperature extremes Sacramento sees, including 100°F+ summer days. The aluminum channel that houses the LEDs dissipates heat efficiently, and the lights themselves are sealed against weather and UV exposure.
Can I change the colors anytime, or just on holidays?
Anytime. Most customers we talk to expected to use the lights mainly for holidays, but end up running daily accent lighting (soft warm white or a subtle color wash) every evening. The everyday accent use is what most homeowners say they love most after a few months.
Is Happy Lites really veteran-owned?
Yes. We’re proudly veteran-owned and operated, based in Folsom and serving the greater Sacramento region including Roseville, Rocklin, El Dorado Hills, Granite Bay, Elk Grove, and surrounding communities. Veteran-owned status is part of our business identity, not a tagline.
Schedule Your Memorial Day Consultation
Free in-home estimates available now. Limited slots remain for Memorial Day weekend installs. Call 916) 214-8585, email rob@happylites.com, or request a consultation online.
