There’s nothing quite like visions of sugar plums and wintery snow to help cool down during Florida’s sweltering summer heat. While Christmas is still months away, a Winter Park man has immersed himself and his elves in the holiday spirit year-round.

Eric Johannessen, whose Winter Park lights display became known after a 2016 appearance on ABC’s “Great Christmas Light Fight,” has set up a winter wonderland in an office space designed to spread Christmas cheer, even in July.

Johannessen Lights started as a passion for Christmas and has now become a professional holiday lighting business that involves ordering lights and planning around the calendar. The back half of his office space now serves as a showroom for lights, a storage space and a place where people can immerse themselves in Christmas decor any time of year.

“Last year, we didn’t do anything with our customers until Oct. 1. We started setting up my house in July. This year, we’ve never stopped,” Johannessen said. “I have a construction business and a project management business. That’s work. This is fun.”

The winter wonderland showroom is set for an open house on Aug. 13 with family-friendly activities, food, drinks and plenty of photo ops.

After his home holiday display took hold in the community, attracting thousands of visitors per year, Johannessen offered to decorate one house in 2020 as part of an auction raising funds for the Dyslexia Foundation. Quickly he realized there was a demand for his decorating services as Johannessen Lights sprung into action and strung up strands on around 40 homes that year.

The last two seasons saw the company decorating 80-100 homes, stores and communities across Central Florida, and 2023 is expected to be the biggest year yet.

“We’re anticipating doing about 200 houses and businesses,” Johannessen said. “People at Christmas get a little frazzled. Family is coming in; there are deadlines and shopping for presents, then also getting the lights up. Our goal is to bring joy to them.”

The company is already ordering commercial-grade lights and planning displays for the 2023 holiday season. Customers spend, on average, about $3,000 for lights, storage and labor to install and take down the lights.

“You basically come home from work one day and the lights are on. You come back from work sometime in January and the lights are gone,” Johannessen said.

This year, Johannessen’s wife, Shannon, and staff are helping decorate interior Christmas trees for customers. Ultimately, this family affair and business stems from a deep love for the holidays.

“Don’t ever do something for the money. It’s what you do every day,” Johannessen said. “You have one life, so you should do what you love to do.”

If you go: Johannessen Lights will be open to the public with activities, food and drinks from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 13 at 4100 Metric Drive, Suite 700 in Winter Park. The showroom is open by appointment otherwise. For more information, visit orlandoholidaylights.com.

Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.