ALLENTOWN AREA
a Little Tikes Playhouse, which doubles as Santa’s workshop, with blow molds of Mrs. Claus and elves nearby.
Other highlights include an illuminated moose in a canoe, blue and white snowflakes projected onto the garage and a flock of penguins — inflatables and blow molds — near the driveway.
Non-perishable food donations for Betty Lou’s Pantry, a ministry of the Southern Lehigh Area Churches, are accepted at the front of the yard.
More displays in the Bethlehem area: 1503 Livingston St., Bethlehem; 1964 Easton Ave., Bethlehem; Main and Market streets, Freemansburg; 1310 Statten Ave., Hanover Township, Northampton County; 2580 Jacksonville Road, Hanover Township, Northampton County; Tobias and Saucon streets, Hellertown; 1095 Easton Road, Hellertown; 3040 Murfield Road, Upper Saucon Township; 3757 Clover Drive, Upper Saucon Township. The weekend after Thanksgiving, about 1,600 people — Santa and the Grinch among them — crowded around Mike Yellak’s house, sipping hot chocolate and munching on popcorn as he lit up 50,000 lights.
The turnout more than doubled last year’s attendance. As for the lights? This year features 10 new display scenes, from the traditional to the unexpected — including a giant hippo and a guitar-strumming Santa.
The winter wonderland takes up every square inch of the property, making the neighbor-
glow from afar.
“I don’t know where I’m going to go if I expand any more,” Yellak says.
The only space left to take up would be the pathway into the yard, lit by lighted arches and providing an inside view of the landscape of lights and creatures.
Everything is mapped out by Yellak each year, he says — from scratch.
He needn’t be outside for you to walk through on your own accord. After doing that, it’s worth stopping by his neighbor Kandy Halulko’s “Santapalooza” at 2030 Orchard Ave. We counted at least 27 Santas, one lucky enough to have a sleigh. Joe and Carol Polenchar provide several reasons to visit their home on Franklin Street in Whitehall: a musical light show, the promise of visits from Santa. But there’s one that captures the theme of the street.
“You could be helping out your neighbor,” reads a radio commercial during a 30-second break from the computer-animated light show.
Not only is it an advertisement for the collection for Second Harvest Food Bank — it’s their fifth year collecting — it’s also the mantra of their neighbors during the holiday season.
The main attraction at 36 Franklin Street is a neighborcoordinated effort, a large yellow sign hanging from the fence across the street directing eyes back to the waterproof donation containers and accompanying wish list on the Polenchars’ lawn.
A long line of trees, pinwheels and stars stretch the expanse of the property, glowhood ing — and strobing — to the tune of holiday songs on 92.3, a pleasant mix of rock and classical. The commercial runs after every sixth song.
One more incentive: Santa plans to make an appearance 6:30-9 p.m. Dec. 21-23. He says he’ll have candy canes.
Want a little more? Follow the lighted fence down Front Street to the house on the corner of Grape Street, which is waxing nostalgic with a giant projection of Mickey Mouse amid dancing lights. No matter where your animated film loyalties lie, you’ll find something to enjoy at 2730 Russell St..
A giant nutcracker salutes in the corner of the yard as Santa leads a cast of characters that includes Hello Kitty, Snoopy, Winnie the Pooh, Olaf, and even Mickey and Minnie, blissful in their own inflatable snow globe.
These fictional favorites congregate on just one side of the house, an inflatable Santa taller than the one-story house towering over them.
Turn to the front of the house for some comic relief: two shivering snowmen — literally — and a creature holding a sign saying “Goo Goo G’Joob.”
It’s easy to pick out the house from afar with its flashing lights and shooting star-like streams mimicking snowfall off the trees. In case you really need help, a giant star tops the street light pole directly adjacent.
While you’re there, round the corner to 1117 N. 26th St. for another yard full of inflatables — aptly labeled “Santa’s Pets.” Every year, houses take new measures to bring Santa to life. Some use motion-controlled inflatables; others invite him for a celebrity appearance.
The home at 2028 S. Sixth St. has one in a sleigh suspended in mid-air, another dancing in a hula skirt, and yet another in hologram form, seen in a second-floor window packing up his bag, giving a wave, and disappearing from view.
The rest of the spectacle is a winter-wonderland of candy canes, popsicles and reindeer, a small teddy bear high in a tree.
The scene stretches to the backyard, the shed proudly displaying a big American flag.
The neighbors are helping out with a light display of their own, including a nativity scene, a Santa in the backyard and a Snoopy inflatable looking out a second-floor window.
Homeowner Bob Dayton is taking donations for the Allentown Ecumenical Food Bank.
While in South Allentown, check out 1224 S. Fountain St., featuring a stately nutcracker supervising Santa and reindeer on a see-saw, among others. This year’s set-up is a comeback for the homeowner — appropriately named John Lighting — who had been sidelined by illness for four years. His kids say he is a willing provider of hot chocolate for visitors.
More in the west Allentown area: 1075 Kressler Road, Lower Macungie; 5429 Doris Drive, Upper Macungie; 342 Hopewell Drive, Upper Macungie.
— Kayla Dwyer