Compiled by Michelle Colesanti
This is the time of year when houses shine bright with lights – colored lights, white lights, moving lights, lighted reindeer, lighted trees and anything else you can think of. Why not pack up the family, play Christmas music and ride around town enjoying the views of some of the best light decorations around?
DeBrocke Family Light Show
Founded in 2006, the DeBrocke Family Light Show is located at 11720 Stonewood Gate Dr. in the Summerfield area of Riverview. They have a computer controlled light show set to music which is broadcasted on 101.1 FM. The display will be held every night through the holidays. Hours are Monday through Thursday nights from 6-9:30 p.m. (extended to 10 p.m. after school is out) and Friday and Saturday from 6-11:30 p.m. It will run until 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
The family asks you to respect their neighbor’s property and not to park on the grass or block driveways. For more information on how the display is set up and to see a video of a past display, visit www.debrockelights.com.
33rd Annual Christmas Lane Moves To Strawberry Festival Expo Hall
Christmas Lane is an extraordinary light display that originated in the 1980s in Dover. This light display has grown each year and has moved this year in and around the Expo Hall at the Festival grounds, located at 2508 Oak Ave. in Plant City. Parking is accessed from Lemon St. and Oak St.
Attendees will be happy to see that there will still be a lot of the old displays, but there will also be a lot of new additions. A large tent equipped with professional sound and lighting will be set up outside to feature local entertainers.
With over 1,800 man hours to set up the display, it is estimated to have over 1.5 million lights adorning over 100 Christmas trees, from 4-40 ft. tall, drawing more than 168,000 watts of power. Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with two of his elves, attend nightly in his sleigh. Children share their wishes and the parents can capture many memorable photo opportunities.
There are many designated photo stops as you travel throughout the display, one especially dedicated to our service men and women with a flag of each branch of the military. Real characters such as Rudolph and Frosty the Snow Man make spontaneous appearances and a complete nativity scene demonstrates the real reason for Christmas.
Christmas Lane will be open through Sunday, January 3, 2016 from 6-10 p.m. nightly. Santa appears nightly through Christmas Eve.
A small fee will be charged to help defray costs. It will be $5 for adults, $2 for ages 4-12. Children ages 3 and under are free. For more information, visit www.christmaslane.org.
Barrington Oaks
Barrington Oaks, located off of Lumsden Road in between Bryan and John Moore Rds., consists of 51 homes, most of which decorate for the holidays. Gates to the community open daily at 6 p.m.
Oakdale Christmas Light Display
The Oakdale display, located at 2719 Oakdale St. S. in St. Petersburg, is among the largest and longest running home light displays in the U.S. This is its 39th year and has been rated in the top three nationally by NBC’s Today Show as well as been featured in People Magazine.
This display is approximately half an acre and is covered with about one quarter of a million lights. There are walkways passing by animated dolls and animals, water fountains, a computerized music light show and a small pond.
It also features a large HO scale model railroad that can run 18 trains at one time an airport with moving planes and a working carnival. There is also a double bubble machine.
This is free and fun for the entire family. It is running now through Sunday, January 3, 2016 from 6-10 p.m. regardless of weather. Visit ChristmasDisplay.org.
