HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA. — Whether you’re strolling through or driving by, an incredible Christmas lights display along Armbrust Road in Hempfield Township is hard to miss.
Spread across one and a half acres, the display lights up the neighborhood and draws families from near and far.
Myah Davis-Fodor and her family came from Greensburg to see the lights for the first time on Christmas Eve.
“It’s amazing,” Davis-Fodor said. “It’s crazy that you can create something just in a neighborhood, not in a special area, not on massive amounts of land, just right in your own front yard, you can create something amazing.”
Rachel Hill and her family started setting up the attraction in October. There’s Rudolf with his bright red nose, a dog park and even a place for misfit toys.
“Santa’s vacation with the Santa Surf Shack is probably my favorite,” Hill said. “I know my dad loved the beach too.”
With more than 800,000 lights and 17 different themes, the massive and moving display honors Hill’s dad, Larry Wilson, who was known as Mr. Christmas.
“When he passed away, my husband said to my mom, we’re going to put up every light in his honor,” Hill said.
The time-honored tradition dates back 30 years.
“These are Larry’s Lights Originals,” Hill said pointing out her father’s old Christmas lights.
After Wilson died in 2019, Larry’s Lights became a labor of love that his family carried on.
“[My mom] is going to cry and I’m going to cry,” Hill said fighting back tears. “I think that just remembering what he started and just honoring something that he loved, which was bringing people together, bringing the community together.”
Wilson also loved his dogs, which is why any and all donations they receive are given to local animal shelters.
So far this year, the Hill family has raised $5,500 for Tiny Cause in Vandergrift and Pet Adoption League in Hunker.
Just like his original lights, Wilson’s memory still shines.
“This is our way of giving back the way that my dad gave back,” Hill said.
If you haven’t had a chance to stop by 262 Armbrust Road yet, there’s still time. The display will be up through New Year’s Eve.
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