It’s a family tradition in most homes this time of year — pack up the car or van with the kids and dogs, tune in to your station that plays that same 20 Christmas songs over and over, grab your favorite peppermint-flavored beverages and “go Christmas light-looking” around town.
There aren’t a ton of neighborhoods in our fair burgh that get together to purposely wow the local citizens, but there are several homes and businesses around Sanford that would do Clark Griswold proud. Below are a few of our favorites. Feel free to add yours in the comments or on our Facebook page.
The Perry House: Don Perry has gone all out on his home on Rockwood Drive in the Westlake Valley subdivision for over 20 years, and every year he seems to add more (we noticed an inflatable pooch lifting his leg toward a concerned snowman this year). A must-see every year.
Carolina Women’s Fitness: Interactive fun — three spots outside of the gym on Center Church Road in Tramway where you can drive up, turn your dial to the FM station posted in front of those lights and watch them blink and play along with the music. The highlight is the reindeer quartet (posted above … apologies for my kid talking during part of it).
Holiday Road: Not far from the Perry House is this impressive display (the photo does it little justice) on Holiday Road in West Sanford. And yes, you now have that song stuck in your head. You’re welcome.
Big lighted trees: It takes a crane to keep this first electric Christmas tree and star up (pictured left) at St. Andrews Church Road and Lee Avenue extension. You’ve likely seen the other bulbed wonder approaching Sanford on U.S. 1 from the north on Beechtree Drive near New Hope Baptist church.
Broken Plow Farm: Unlike the previous entries, this one costs money ($9 a person), but your ticket includes a hayride and visit with Santa. The hayride takes visitors through a nice assortment of lights. The farm will be open Dec. 21, 22 and 23, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Depot Park: A few years ago, Downtown Sanford Inc. and the City of Sanford joined in to light up downtown’s Depot Park with lights surrounding the square and the depot building, and moving lights on the train. It’s certainly worth a stop or a drive-by during your lights search.
Mockingbird Lane: Mock. King. Bird. King. … sorry, where were we? Ah, yes. Lights. Mockingbird Lane, in the Quail Ridge community, has several homes that do pretty well when it comes to lights. It’s one of the few local neighborhoods where they seem to try to outdo each other.
Christmas Lane: It’s not longer running, but you can’t have a Christmas lights list in Sanford without paying tribute to this 10-acre wonderland of lights near Quail Ridge in the southwest portion of Lee County. For years, Christmas Lane provided a good 10-minute drive of blinking lights, inflatables, manger scenes and robotic decorations. Here’s hoping someone picks up the torch and brings back a local holiday tradition.
GOT MORE?
Send us more homes with great Christmas lights or displays … we’ll add them to our story.
There are some nice displays in the Carbonton Heights neighborhood – Come check them out!
2418 Carbonton Road
David and Kay Ward’s house
Tastefully tacky, the decorations are awesome.
Please have everyone go by my daughters at 179 Rosser Pittman rd. Broadway NC Her display is breathtaking.