It’s November and for many that means prepping their holiday list. For one house in Peckville, it means “go time.”
The Peckville Christmas House at Marion Street has an ongoing tradition of a spectacular light display. This is a bucket-list item for the holiday season.
Matt and Jeff Harhut are brothers and Peckville residents who have been creating the display since the early 1990s.
“We started the tradition because we always enjoyed driving around with family when we were kids and looking at the lights in the neighborhoods. We wanted to make our home festive,” Matt Harhut said.
They started off with a small collection of old lights and recycled pieces they would find at yard sales. “Every year we collected more pieces and our display has grown into what it is today,” Matt Harhut added.
The brothers look forward to seeing the community at the Peckville Christmas House’s annual grand lighting on Thanksgiving night, Nov. 27, at 5 p.m. Afterward, the display will be open, weather permitting, every Monday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m. through Russian Christmas, which is Jan. 7.
If you have heard of the Peckville Christmas House, you may have seen it on ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” in 2017.
The brothers explained how it was fun to be recognized as one of the most decorated homes in the country. They carry on the family tradition of decorating the house for the public to enjoy with the original house at 1130 Marion St. and next door at 1126 Marion St., spanning both houses’ driveways and backyards. There is a path for the public to walk through the winter wonderland.
Jeff Harhut, left, and Matt Harhut set up blow molds at the Peckville Christmas House. The spectacular holiday display consists of over 3,500 blow molds. (Marissa Pilato/For The Valley Advantage)
For the display’s setup, Matt and Jeff Harhut have help from friends and family to decorate the space, which consists of over 3,500 blow molds — from small tabletop pieces all the way up to life-size pieces. And there are well over 250,000 lights — that’s a lot of electricity.
The main expense for them — although they do have an expensive electric bill — is the “backstage” items, like light sockets, light bulbs, replacement bulbs and extension cords.
The weekends are busy at the house, but the public looks forward to the hot chocolate and scavenger hunt. This year, the brothers got a new Christmas tree for the picture frame display. They will also be selling T-shirts and sweatshirts, and the items can be purchased by direct message from their Facebook page, facebook.com/peckvillechristmashouse.
The time and preparation the Harhut brothers put into the display is tremendous. They start setting up at the end of August with the lights, and in early November they begin placing the blow molds.
“We have blow molds for every holiday,” Jeff Harhut said.
“Halloween is a big holiday. People love Halloween so we even have a whole section with those types of blow molds,” Matt Harhut added.
The newest blow molds to the display are a Donald Duck and a vintage Charlie Brown. There will be new items added to the scavenger hunt so the brothers advise to keep a lookout for them.
The blow molds at the Peckville Christmas House range from small tabletop pieces all the way up to life-size pieces. (Marissa Pilato/For The Valley Advantage)
With so many pieces, there has to be a favorite for each of them. Jeff Harhut loves the large hanging lanterns and bells.
“We plan vacations around acquiring pieces; we’ve been up and down the East Coast. My favorite pieces are from town displays all around the country. We have them hanging from the top of the house,” Jeff Harhut said.
Matt Harhut said, “My favorite pieces are the vintage ones — those pieces that you can rarely find somewhere else, such as the large reindeer head from the 1950s.”
He said his favorite part of the holiday extravaganza is “the continuing tradition. I see young adults who came years ago as kids, who now have their kids coming to the display. It’s neat to see them grow and their families grow and for them to enjoy traditions like we did.”
For Jeff Harhut, it’s “the community coming out and enjoying riding around. When I look at the cars drive by and seeing the joy and excitement in the faces, it reminds me of my treasured tradition driving around and admiring other people’s displays and lights.”
Both brothers enjoy collaborating and putting out the decorations year after year.
“We really look forward to it,” Matt Harhut said.
Matt and Jeff Harhut start setting up the Peckville Christmas House at the end of Aug. with the lights, and in early November they begin placing the blow molds. (Marissa Pilato/For The Valley Advantage)
Visitors come from far away, up to a four-hour drive. Matt Harhut recalls people visiting from Altona, New York, to see the traditional display.
The brothers are always looking for new blow molds and unique finds. Even though there may be some duplicate pieces, each is unique with its own story.
“We have 15 mangers,” Jeff Harhut said. “Blow molds have become more popular since TV shows like ‘The Great American Light Fight,’ among other shows.”
Matt Harhut added, “It’s rare to find vintage ones, but we keep looking.”
The display is free. However, they do accept donations. Visitors should check the Peckville Christmas House Facebook page for any holiday updates.
Street parking is available. People can also park at the Sacred Heart of Jesus parking lot.
Both brothers agree the display is a lot of work. But by recapturing old, favorite traditions and memories, they enjoy bringing the holiday spectacle to the community and plan to continue doing so for future generations.
If you go
What: Peckville Christmas House annual grand lighting
When: 5 p.m., Thanksgiving night, Nov. 27
Where: 1130 Marion St., Peckville
Visiting hours: After the grand lighting, the holiday display will be open, weather permitting, every Monday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 7.
Info: Visit the Peckville Christmas House Facebook page.