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Happy Holidays 2006

Holiday lights

By TIMES STAFF
Published December 28, 2006

LARGO

Florida Botanical Gardens at Pinewood Cultural Park, 12520 Ulmerton Road: "Seasonal Sensations - An Illuminated Garden" is a free 10-acre display featuring 425,000 lights. It is open nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 3. Free parking is available next door at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art.

Lake Park Estates, 97th Street and 109th Avenue N: This holiday lights display by 100 homeowners the Largo-Seminole area benefits Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. It runs 6:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6:30 to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday through Sunday. Donations accepted. Call 586-4432. Check for a map at www.thehospice.org.

Heritage Village. 11909 125th St. N: Features trees decorated in global themes and village structures decked out for the holidays. This free display is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Call 582-2123.

Kimpton Place: Tina Angles writes that her street has a display featuring more than 250,000 lights synchronized to Christmas music that visitors can listen to by tuning their car radios to 88.3 FM.

11201 122nd Ave N, No. M250: Jere Culp writes that "we have an unusual light display in that it is strictly to honor Jesus' birth. No Santa Claus, snowmen or other things which have been added to the season. There is a nativity, kings, angels and shepherds all done in white lights." At 113th Street and 126th Avenue.

7501 142nd Ave. N, Lot 550: Robert and Shana Cote in the Whispering Pines Mobile Home Park have a display featuring a huge shadow box with an illuminated Star of David and a lighted 4-foot-tall menorah. The Hanukkah decorations are unique, Mrs. Cote writes, because her husband made them himself.

11911 66th St. N, No. 810: James Thomas writes that he made more than 80 percent of his display in Rainbow Village. It has a tropical theme with a "buccaneer bay tiki hut, retired Santa, candy cane archway and pond with a light bridge." He adds: "Who says a display has to be huge?"

CLEARWATER

Japanese Garden Mobile Home Park, 19709 U.S. 19 N: Joan Sytsma of Fujiami Drive writes that nearly all 280 homes and the clubhouse in Japanese Garden Mobile Home Park are "fully decorated and lit up beautifully. ... Worth taking a ride in the park." James Eveland, former president of the lot renters association, writes that "this year is the best I have ever seen. We even had church buses come into this park for a quick tour."

2281 Lagoon Circle S: Bob Owens has put up 60,000 lights and decorated all of his palm trees. He also has a helicopter with Santa, sea lions, blue water and an igloo, as well as a polar bear with twin cubs surrounded by snow. Ten radios play Christmas music from 7 to 10 p.m. "The nice thing," he writes, "is I put it all up myself, and I am 60 years old."

1645 Eden Court: Bob and Barb Heuschkel offer working model railroads and Christmas villages set up in the garage of their home, which is off Lake Avenue between Belleair and Nursery roads. Hours are 7 to 9 p.m.

1727 Penny Lane: Corner lot with lights, filled with more than 30 blowup figures: Santas (including Mickey Mouse and the Grinch as Santa), reindeer, penguins and bears.

2958 Deer Run S: Mike Engelmann writes that his display is "not elaborate, but if you're a Florida Gator, you'll enjoy these decked-out Gators." For a slide show, go to http://homepage.mac.com/gatordadmike3/PhotoAlbum9.html.

1001 Druid Road S: Zena Lansky's home in Harbor Oaks at Druid Road and Magnolia Street is decorated like a reindeer crossing, with reindeer and a sleigh coming up the steps into the house.

2820 Whitney Road: Roy and Judy Stines' display features mostly white lights, a 6-foot Santa standing beside what appears to be a fire in a potbellied stove, with Mrs. Claus in her rocker watching an elf decorate a tree.

2662 Beaumont Court: Train, total village, flying Santa.

2833 Meadowhill Drive: Living Christmas tree, snow, "old-fashioned Christmas."

Beckett Lake Estates, 2147 Hartford Way: Red, white, blue trees; loads of animations; snow machine; decorated classic '69 Mustang.

El de Oro West, 2143 Grove Place: Animated, life-size Santa; mailbox; moving carousel; seesaw; lights galore.

Greenbriar, 2159 Greenbriar Blvd: Animated characters, Santa and Mrs. Claus on a Harley, snow people, manger, trees. Neighborhood lighting winner two years running.

Pinellas Groves, 14601 58th St. N: Singing Santa, three sleighs, one sleigh on the roof with a waving Santa, animated lights (helicopter, elves with stocking, more), six inflatables, two snow globes.

Washington Square, 2 N Fernwood Ave: Many lights and blowups on this patio.

Woodgate III, 2245 Tulip Tree Lane: Decorated live oak and holly trees, reindeer grazing and taking flight. Driveway lined with candy canes, a grand Christmas tree on display.

Woodgate III, 2313 Hawthorne Drive: "Holidays on Hawthorne. Thousands of lights, complete nativity scene and much more."

Woodside Village condo, 4215 East Bay Drive, No. 802: Lots of lawn displays, balloons, animations, festive scenes, thousands of lights.

SAFETY HARBOR

2121 Swan Lane: Bob and Maggie Morrison decorate their house and yard with lights and lighted displays featuring more than 10,000 lights, all set to music. Ten songs are programmed to the lights, and visitors can listen either on the Morrisons' speakers or by tuning their car radios to 89.5 FM. Two of the most popular songs are Winter of Wizard and Christmas in Sarajevo, "which really make the lights dance," Bob Morrison writes. A computer controls 48 plug-ins connected by more than 4,000 feet of extension cords. Lights are on from 6 to 11 p.m.

DUNEDIN

1241 Falcon Drive: "Mama's little Disney World."

1430 Douglas Ave: Eight-foot blowups, thousands of lights, gingerbread house, merry-go-round, animated figures. Projector images, roof lights connect to neighbor's roof.

Heath Ridge, 2113 Evans Road: Snowflakes on four villas, lights, ladder with elves going up a tree, Santa and Mrs. Claus in a sleigh.

PALM HARBOR

2449 Indian Trail W: Mark Bourdon has more than 40,000 lights and figures. "Everyone who sees the display says it's one of the nicest they have ever seen," he writes.

2456 Indian Trail W: Jim Arntz has a "traditional Christmas display like no other," with thousands of lights and unique lighted figurines, all of which he designed and made. "Our display has grown over the years, but we are running out of room," he writes. "Indian Trails has over 50 homes decorated. It is worth the drive."

EAST LAKE

4018 Executive Drive: Peter Ganci of Presidents Landing in Lansbrook has more than 25,000 red and white lights covering the house, bushes, trees, basketball hoop and lawn. The decorations include a Santa with sleigh and reindeer, as well as a Christmas tree, a polar bear, penguins, presents, snowmen, soldiers, angels and a nativity scene. Lights are on from 7 to 10 p.m.

4760 Ridgemoor Circle: Rich Stafford writes that about 94 of 149 homes in Coventry Village at Ridgemoor are decorated, making for a beautiful stroll.

TARPON SPRINGS

72 N Park Ave.: Metal sculptor Oscar Pumpin has created a 15-foot Christmas tree out of chrome and steel automobile parts.

OLDSMAR

1006 State St.: Babe Wright has 1.5 acres with everything from a manger scene to a sleigh and reindeer on top of the house and a stagecoach and horses in the yard. Plus, there are arches, penguins, dolphins and Santa on a motorcycle.

[Last modified December 28, 2006, 06:21:11]