Nov 21, 2003 By Melissa Williams Schofield For The 5 min read

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP – Long before “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” where the movie’s main character, Clark Griswold, strings together countless strands of Christmas lights to decorate the family’s home for the holidays, the late Harry Overly was already on to something. Like many people who vow not to go overboard year after year putting up Christmas lights, Overly started out small. He decorated his two-story colonial home in rural Armbrust, Westmoreland County, to get his family, friends and neighbors in the holiday spirit.

At first he decorated with a few strands of lights. Then the light display grew. And grew. And grew.

Overly was one of the first people in the area to add animation to his displays, now a hallmark of Overly’s Country Christmas. Lights were meticulously intertwined in the branches of trees and strung in perfect rows along miles of fence that outlined his property. Every year his display featured something different so those who came back year after year would be surprised. Just about everything on his property was outlined in white lights.

Over the years, the Overly home and surrounding seven acres became a showcase, first attracting neighbors and then people from nearby communities. Word spread and people would travel for miles to share in the holiday excitement. The light show has grown in size and spectacle, and eventually moved 10 years ago to the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds on Route 981 in Mount Pleasant Township. Carloads of people traveled from far away to see the magnificent display that lit up the sky at the Overly residence.

At first, there was no fee for the drive by of the holiday light show at the Overly property. Overly’s neighbors and friends volunteered to play Santa and Mrs. Claus, and local young people dressed as elves to hand out lollipops to children in passing cars.

One year when Overly himself was dressed as Santa Claus, a woman handed him a $1 bill in appreciation for the light display that brought so much joy to her children. Overly told her there was no fee to see the lights. The woman replied, “Give it to your favorite charity.”

That recommendation from a stranger was the seed that sparked the vision of the light display becoming a major charitable fund-raiser. Overly knew immediately that the display could only be used to benefit children’s causes. It was what he wanted, to help sick children.

During the 35 years that the light display was held at the Overly home, nearly $1 million was raised by donations from passersby and later through an annual private preview party held at the Overly home.

That first $1 million was raised mostly from pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. The money was donated by the Overly family to the Free Care Fund at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and children’s medical services at Westmoreland Regional Hospital in Greensburg.

In its 47th year, the display has grown into one of the Pittsburgh area’s most cherished holiday traditions. Overly’s Country Christmas has been featured on “Good Morning America” and other ABC, NBC, and CBS-affiliated television programs. In 1983, Good Housekeeping magazine named Overly’s Country Christmas one of America’s best outdoor light displays.

The display now features 2.1 million twinkling lights and animated displays. If all strands were plugged in end-to-end, it would stretch from the fairgrounds to beyond Mars, Pa. It lights up 15 acres of the fairgrounds and includes five acres as a park and a walk-through winter wonderland.

The display is open every evening through Jan. 4, 2004, including holidays, Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 10 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 5:30 to 11 p.m. The $8 per car and $10 for extended passenger vans benefits Overly’s Lights for Little Ones Endowment, which supports multiple children’s causes.

The display annually attracts 80,000 people from a 12-county area. Many return year after year as part of a family tradition. Overly’s Country Christmas combines a drive-through and walk-through experience.

All the displays are handmade by volunteers and have tried to maintain replicas of what Overly started years ago. Visitors have an opportunity to stroll through Christmas Village with the aromas of an outdoor barbecue, kettle corn and warm, spiced cider and hot cocoa. Henry Hemlock, the talking Christmas tree, and Santa Claus greet visitors.

And, if you can’t wait until Christmas to sample holiday treats, the Sweete Shoppe and Cookie Barn features homemade fudge and yuletide delicacies.

It’s not all about the lights, though you can’t help but be overwhelmed by the elaborate display.

Overly’s Country Christmas is a shopper’s dream. One-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts are sold, making great stocking stuffers.

Once you’ve satisfied your taste buds, whittled down your Christmas shopping list and taken in the light display, horse-drawn wagon rides are provided. Carolers sing around the Overly bonfire.

For more information about Overly’s Country Christmas, call 800-9-OVERLY (968-3759), 724-423-1400 or log on to the Web site at www.overlys.com.