INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — For residents on 33rd Avenue, putting up Christmas decorations is more than a hobby – it’s a tradition.
Numerous decorations lit up the block, off 4th Street, on Monday night, where several cars could be seen driving slowly to take in the spectacle.
“We don’t know Christmas without holiday lights,” said south county resident Catlin Gross, 26. “I enjoy meeting new people who stop by and take a look around. It’s part of the holiday; that’s what makes it special.”
Gross, a 3rd grade teacher at Rosewood Magnet School, said she and her mom have been setting up their decorations for the past 22 years. This year, they set up inflatable snowmen, an inflatable Santa and multi-colored lights.
Her next door neighbor to the left, Bob Moore, has a full display of decorations in his front yard. Multi-colored flashing lights outline the bushes and roof of the home.
Moore, whose family has set up decorations for many years, said they tried to put the decorations in place over Thanksgiving weekend, but there was too much rain, so they had to wait.
After the rain, Moore, his wife, and two sons helped him put up the decorations at the home.
“We add a few new things each year,” said Moore, 71, of south Indian River County.
A bursting bright star that turns different colors shined from the gable while Santa and his reindeer were lit up in Christmas lights below. There also were inflatable decorations such as a Christmas penguin and teddy bear, Santa with a sleigh full of toys, and Santa’s toy shop.
Christmas lights that showed a holiday train and the gingerbread men jumping on a trampoline and jumping rope also could be seen in the yard. Statues of Santa and Mrs. Claus were at the front yard toward the street.
A large Merry Christmas poster with Santa putting gifts under a Christmas tree covers the garage door while another poster of Santa covers the front door.
The end of the street has a cul-de-sac, which has a grassy area with a large inflatable snowman surrounded by bushes and palm trees with Christmas lights.
Gross said about 30 to 40 vehicles have recently come each night to look at the decorations. Her other neighbor to the right, Jim Callahan, also has a full display of Christmas decorations.
Some of those included lit-up statues of characters from the Nativity Scene, a statue of Peanuts’ Snoopy and Woodstock wearing Christmas hats, and inflatable decorations of Disney characters Mickey, Minnie and Pluto.
Callahan was not available for comment.
Photos by Nick Samuel
