Have you ever seen strange lights in the night sky and wondered if it was a UFO or something else? Earlier this month, social media users in Wisconsin shared videos of what appeared to be bright orbs gliding through the clouds in the rural parts of the state, causing some to speculate the lights were from an unidentified aerial phenomenon.
“Multiple witnesses reporting orb-like UAPs flying in formation over rural Wisconsin..!!” wrote Twitter user Joshua Rodriguez. A tweet of the video on his page garnered over 24,000 views.
NEW: Multiple witnesses reporting orb-like UAPs flying in formation over rural Wisconsin..!! #UFO pic.twitter.com/jFmWBRAoo6
— Joshua Rodriguez (@Joshuajered) December 20, 2022
However, after an investigation by columnist Mick West, the source of the strange lights was revealed to be a Christmas light display set up at the home of the Flanders family in Belgium, Wisconsin, a village in Ozaukee County. West shared maps illustrating why he thought the display was responsible for the lights and even contacted the Flanders family, who confirmed they had a light show with six moving beams.
Flanders family confirms:
“Yes I have 6 moving beam light part of my Christmas light show”
— Mick West (@MickWest) December 21, 2022
Wisconsin “Firefly” UFOs solved. They were actually what they looked like: some spotlights. Specifically spotlights on the roof of the Flanders family home, a new addition to their locally famous Christmas light show. @BenHansen00 https://t.co/8sNec4Omjn
— Mick West (@MickWest) December 21, 2022
“The Flanders Family Christmas Lights are responsible for several ‘UFO’ sightings in Wisconsin,” he tweeted. “From a distance, all you see are the spots of lights moving in the clouds. Their motion follows music (broadcast on radio) in quite long and complex sequences.”
West said he contacted the Flanders family, who confirmed they had “6 moving [beams of] light” as part of their Christmas display.
However, Former FBI agent Ben Hansen, who hosts UFO Witness on Discovery+ isn’t convinced.
“I respect you @mickwest but this doesn’t add up,” he said in a series of tweets. “The Flanders Christmas display is 12.5 miles from our witnesses. The family told us they use 380W DMX party lights (DJ stage lights). This video is the house recorded from 2 miles. Do we really need to go back 10 more miles?”
“Not to mention, the pattern does not resemble what was captured on camera, nor are beams visible whatsoever in the witness videos. This demo was recorded under similar conditions at 10:50 PM (same as the event). You may feel the case is solved, but we still have work to do,” he added.
I respect you @mickwest but this doesn’t add up. The Flanders Christmas display is 12.5 miles from our witnesses. The family told us they use 380W DMX party lights (DJ stage lights). This video is the house recorded from 2 miles. Do we really need to go back 10 more miles? pt 1 https://t.co/S6qQcM3lK7 pic.twitter.com/Q5Ai2dfFOh
— Ben Hansen (@BenHansen00) December 21, 2022
The other problem is the lights were seen after 10:30pm which is when the Flanders turn off their Christmas lights for the night.
So, was it really a UFO or just a Christmas light display?
One thing to note, the Flanders have not stopped their Christmas light show and nobody has seen the lights since.
