By Sarah Schrock
There’s one holiday tradition where suburbia has us beat. It’s as American as apple pie but around here it takes a lot of sleuthing to find it. Here in the Methow it is somewhat elusive and certainly isn’t commonplace. It’s the Christmas lights drive.
Many families across the country take to the streets of their towns on Christmas Eve, Christmas night, or any evening during the holiday week that follows Santa to partake in the search for the ultimate holiday display. You know the kind; I liken it to the Clark Griswold effect (“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”). The home holiday light display has taken on new meaning in the 21st century.
Nowadays, you can find the best houses on your smart phone, tune into AM stations, and listen into houses where lights literally dance to the music. Often, these holiday antics are part of local charity contests or just friendly competitions between neighbors. They make the local news broadcasts and people set out to see them, often causing traffic jams. How much more American can that be?
Here in the valley, I have to say, we are little lame on the holiday lights scene. Now don’t take offense, I know many of you put in a lot of effort — this is not a criticism (well maybe it is, sort of, but we could all catch a little more Griswold spirit up here). I am sure some of my readers are happy our homes are not littered with tacky snowmen and Santa sleighs with gaudy lights. What a relief, right? The valley has more to offer: our holiday is kept pristine, we preserve the night sky, the beauty of the winter snow and moonlight should be enough.
Well, I’d like to agree, but, if there’s a place and time for corny, it’s lawn ornaments at Christmas time. I am not too proud to admit it: I like the silly snowman waving at me. It strikes a sentimental, playful, whimsical cord in my heart; it makes me laugh. And what’s the harm in some tacky decorations to make us smile this time of year? (Don’t answer that, I don’t want to know about kids being suffocated in blown-up snowmen, the forced labor camps where they are made, or the landfills full of Christmas refuse. ’Tis the season to stay ignorant).
One thing is for sure — the lower valley has the upper valley beat on wattage, color and extent of light coverage. As I commute in the early morning and evening to Chelan during the week, I have been scoping the highway, entertained and beckoned by the light displays that grow by the numbers further down valley. They must be on a different PUD rate then us, because Pateros alone has more houses lit up than Twisp and Winthrop combined. Of special note are the houses near Danzl Road. So, if you want to go on a lights drive, south is the direction to go.
Here in town, there are a few special homes to make honorable mention. First, the homes known as Twisp Commons off Burgar Street host a colonnade of lights strung up as trees. They bring me cheer when I drive in and out of town. Burgar Street, too, with its charming houses, offers up some spirit with many well-displayed lights. Midway down Alder Street you will see the best display in town! A full Nativity, snowflakes, gingerbread men. It’s a sight worth seeing. The best thing about a lights drive in Twisp — it can be a walk instead! With only two square miles to cover, make it a walk (and watch the ice).
By the way, if you are wondering why the ice is still on the sidewalks, the city’s small sidewalk plow broke down after the last big storm. They are working on the fix, but in the meantime, with a little holiday spirit we can all remember to shovel our sidewalks and head out to the highway with our shovels and clear the way for those of our residents who really need it cleared for safe walking.
See you next year!
