Holiday lights abound

by Dan Holland

The number of residential holiday light displays in Brecksville have grown in size and number over the years. One such display listed as “Greystone Wonderland” on the website northeastohiofamilyfun.com – Best Christmas Lights in Northeast Ohio 2024 – is located at 9468 Greystone Parkway.

Homeowner Duane Steelman said this is his family’s third season of hosting light displays at the location, which features more than 30,000 lights, 70 inflatables and 30 lighted deer.  Steelman takes off the week of Thanksgiving each year, putting in 10-12 hours a day, along with help from family members, to set up the extensive display. The display, which stays up until after New Year’s Day, takes more than a month to take down afterwards.

Steelman also sets up themed displays for other holidays. The size of the displays required the upgrading of an electrical box, the addition of five outdoor outlets and the digging of a two-foot-deep trench in his backyard.

“I converted all my lights to LEDs two years ago, and I try to find the best deals after the holidays and store them for the following year,” said Steelman. “I decorate for most holidays, including Easter, Valentine’s Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Most people don’t realize that the inside of our house is equally as decorated as the yard. The displays will continue to get bigger as I can still do it, and with my son helping.”

“I look out the windows every night and see cars going by, with some cars stopping to take photos,” he added. “It’s a great feeling just to watch other people enjoying what we build through hard work and dedication.” 

Windswept Drive

The Jones family has been decorating their home on Windswept Drive during the holiday season with a display consisting of as many as 35,000 lights since 2007. Set up time requires approximately 60 hours of work for the family, according to Pete Jones. “’Lighting up the neighborhood’ is a theme we’ve thrown around in the past for our display,” he said. “We have lights all the way around the house, and it can be seen from multiple roads, including Oakes, Glenwood Trail and State Route 82.”

Maple Crest FarmMaple Crest Farm and Equestrian Center, located at 6530 Miller Rd., will be hosting “Christmas at Maple Crest Farm” on Dec. 12, 19, 21 & 27 from 6 – 8:30 p.m. The walk-through event, which is open to the public for a $5 entrance fee, will feature indoor and outdoor light displays, hayrides, visits with Santa, refreshments, an authentic winter sleigh, horses, ponies, a scavenger hunt and more. For details, visit maplecrestfarmohio.com/christmas.

photo caption: A number of homes on Oakes Road offer a variety of combined light displays. Photos by Dan Holland