On Friday night, in lieu of attending Sector St. Pete's ugly sweater party at a neighborhood sports bar (sorrynotsorry—I was hoping for something a little more glam), I slipped into my new cute holiday sweater (cheaper here), put on red booties and a bright red lip (this + this), and convinced the hubs to go look at Christmas lights. But first, coffee. To get that extra cozy wintertime feeling, we stopped at Starbucks and ordered up the new holiday drink, a chestnut praline latte (yum!), and then we were off, headed for south St. Petersburg. While having lunch at a local sandwich shop a week ago, I spied a flyer advertising the Oakdale Christmas House, considered one of the biggest and best light displays in the country, so I figured we just had to check it out. With about 1/2-million lights over a half-acre, it really was quite the sight to behold, almost blinding in its beauty. My eyes didn't know where to look! I was in awe at the sheer magnitude of the display and all the time, energy and money it must take to put it up each year. Free and open to the public, the Oakdale Christmas House had many other visitors that night, and a line formed to walk a path that winds around the house and the huge yard, giving adults and kids a closer look at all the quaint (and sometimes strange) decorations, which included illuminated figures, dolls, stuffed animals, inflatables, and even a miniature railroad. While the display definitely delivers Christmas cheer, I also felt the spirit of the season exuded from all the people, strangers, who gathered together in one place to marvel at the magical scene.
Here's a glimpse into our evening...
Have you visited any stellar Christmas displays this year?
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