The El Paso Ronald McDonald House lit up to signal the beginning of the Christmas season on Wednesday.

The house in Central El Paso has provided a home away from home for families of sick children undergoing treatment in nearby hospitals. 

This is the 27th year that the Ronald McDonald House has held the Christmas event called Lights of Love.

"A lot of times, families don't have a place to stay, and their child has to be in the hospital," said Richard Castro a McDonald's owner. "The Ronald House provides a place for families to stay, and as we know, families go a long way to helping these kids get better."

The McDonald house was illuminated with Christmas lights. Children's eyes gleamed as they stared at the blinking lights and Ronald McDonald himself was there to show his support and entertain the children. 

Tonight's event was sponsored by the Children's Hospital at Providence and Southwest Airlines, who together gave a total of $18,000 in donations to the house.