Elvis and the Christmas Lights Spectacular in Mahwah, New Jersey (Bergen County)

Every family has a tradition that marks the beginning of the Christmas season. When my mom was a little girl, it was coming home from church Thanksgiving morning in time to see Santa in the Macy's Parade. When I was growing up, our tradition was going to see a house a couple towns away that had an awesome lights display. The tradition began to lag as we got older, as our family tradition was shared by more and more people, to the point of requiring police to direct traffic around the house. The display is on a dead end in Mahwah, New Jersey, and has become quite the tourist attraction.

It all started with a wealthy Elvis impersonator who went a little overboard with his Christmas lights. He has "the king" on his rooftop, along with Marilyn Monroe and some other characters! Neighbors joined in, and now one can travel through the two cul-de-sacs and enjoy a rare spectacle. They have lights on islands in the middle of ponds, along grass and trees and bushes, even completely lining walls. There are so many lights involved that, as one website pointed out, " An article in the Bergen Record [local paper]...mentioned it cost $200/night to power the Christmas Lights and that there were 12 electrical substations on the property to handle the load" (see http://www.fourfold.ca/billm/Misc/Christmas/2004/ElvisHouseInMahwah/ElvisHouse.htm). An attentive viewer can find Lady Liberty and Father Christmas, and if you step out of your car, you should even hear some music.

As I said, the attraction has grown so much that Mahwah police officers are needed on the weekend to direct traffic. Last time I went to see them a few years ago, we sat in traffic for a good 45 minutes before even getting to the streets. But, as long as you have good company and maybe a snack, the wait is well worth it.