While the inaugural lighting was held on Friday, December 6, 2013, this display is a work in progress and expands every year. You can view the house beginning at 7pm the Friday after Thanksgiving through January 1, from 5-11PM. This display stays true to the movie. The house is covered with 250 stands of lights; 100 bulbs per strand; for a grand total of 25,000 imported Chinese twinkle lights. They also have Santa, the eight tiny reindeer, and the Merry Christmas sign, Uncle Eddie's RV, the pool model and a pile of "trash" with remnants of the Griswold's festivities (the charred chair, the shredded sled, the burnt tree). They even have a radio station (102.3 FM) that plays songs and sound clips from the movie. It is free to view the display but they accept donations. All the donations go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Great Strides Walk in Akron, which they have participate in each May (Team name is: The Griswolds). Visitors can donate at a drop box in their front yard. Or if you don't have any cash, there is a QR code on the sign at the display that you can scan and it will also take you directly to the donation website.
It does not take much time to go through the display and contrary to what you may see online, the display is only outdoors. There is no indoor portion. You want spend much time at the house, but it is still an amazing site. I love the "ditto" lights on the neighbors house. We spent about 20 minutes there. We were thorough. Some people just do a drive-by, but since we came all the way from Indianapolis, we made the party last a bit longer.
Please keep in mind that their neighbors must be really cool, but be courteous and do not park in, turn around in or block their drive ways. Also turn your lights off when you approach the house. This is a great thing, operated by great people, for a great cause. I highly recommend stopping by and getting some of the Christmas spirit, even if you are not familiar with the movie. read more