It’s that time of the year again. Time to drink hot chocolate, go sledding, wrap presents and dress up the inside and outside of the house. There’s something special about wrapping strands of lights around trees, bushes and across the roof.
Here in Lawrence, everyone seems to have their own style. From wreaths to reindeer, icy white lights to rainbow colored lights. I decided to go sight seeing and pick out a few houses with special decorations.
December nights in Lawrence are one of a kind. I found it impossible to go down a completely dark street; there’s always at least one house lit up.
Most houses were sweet and simple, with lights spread out across the roof and one or two trees lit up. A few lights and a wreath are common decorations. They add just the perfect touch of joy and warmth to the homes in the bitter cold of winter.
Some homes are unique. The whole yard of these residences glow different colors. Inflatable snowmen, Santas and reindeer move to the sweet sounds of Christmas music.
Freshman Naomi Grant likes when the displays are interactive and fun such as light-up reindeer or snowman and things that move. She loves seeing homes like 1132 Parkside Circle, near Dad Perry Park. The main attraction of this sparkling home is the lights that travel up and down the giant Christmas tree in the center of the yard. The lights also flow through arcs, poles, across the roof, in a wreath and frame the garage.
Bouncing from snowman to snowman the lights go; there is never a dull moment. Luckily I had access to the radio, because the lights coordinate with Christmas songs on station 96.9 FM.
I stopped by to see a fun house near 6th Street and Folks Road, close to Dillons. 4530 Larissa Drive has an interactive and interesting display. The house has a cluster of mini Christmas trees and lights lining the roof. Wreathes glow and and a snowflake sits on the garage. I turned on the radio to 98.7 FM and listened to the sweet tunes that correlate with the rainbow of dancing lights.
I drove around to the other side of the house, and saw lights moving through arcs and across a Christmas tree to the beat of the song. But my personal favorite part of this display is the sign promoting donations to a hospital. Even with all the getting, I have to remember the holidays are a time for giving, too.
When the holidays come around, Christmas artist Vincent Garcia loves seeing all the decorations again and checking all the lights. He and his lights become friends after a while, he says.
Garcia takes pride in decorating. A huge inflatable snowman welcomes any visitor at 1305 Vantuyl Drive, which is near Quail Run Elementary School and McGrew Nature Preserve. Candy canes line the walkway to the front doors. A bright Santa and a waving snowman stand at the edge of the driveway. Recorded Christmas music plays softly, and the whole house shines. This cheery home, embedded in a bright neighborhood, stands out.
No houses that I’ve seen in Lawrence have a theme quite like the Peace on Earth theme of 2311 Manchester Road, a house near Lawrence Country Club. Birds flutter over the red lights that spell “Peace on Earth” on the brick wall. Bright reindeer cover the front lawn, and an inflatable Santa stands by two inflatable snowmen.White lights outline Santa’s sleigh. The rest of the trees and bushes are blanketed with colorful lights.
Homeowner Monty Boyd enjoys every second of decorating. For him it all started the first year of marriage when his wife asked him if he was going to put lights up. He said no, I’m not into that kind of stuff. She called him a scrooge. From that moment on he has been hanging lights all over his house. He has decorated every year since then, making this year his 31st.
All of the lights around town help to fill people with a sense of Christmas cheer.
“It’s just so pretty and it makes me feel like Christmas is really here,” freshman Cienna Sorell said.