Holiday Lights: The Glendora Christmas House

Since 1962, Glendora resident Justin Wilkins has been decking the halls of his Maple Avenue yard and home with thousands of Christmas lights, inflatable reindeer and other illuminated decorations.

It's not just a beloved township tradition, but a family one that Wilkins carries on.

“I took over when my father passed away,” said Wilkins. “He did it every year and I helped him string the lights. When he was gone, I kept the tradition going.”

Wilkins has never missed a year in 49 years. He strings more than 1,000 lights every Christmas. That dedication to holiday cheer does come at a cost—last year his electric bill was $500 for the month of December.

He begins work in August, first setting up a Halloween light display. Then, on Nov. 1, Wilkins uses the same framework to create his Christmas display, which includes 20 inflatable decorations, Christmas music playing on an outdoor speaker system, vintage decorations from the 1950s and '60s and of course, Santa Claus.

Wilkins, who works at Sun Bank, moonlights as Santa every night from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the garage (aka Santa’s workshop). He estimates he gets about 300 visitors a night.

Guests are invited to sign a guest book, talk with Santa and of course, get a candy cane. Wilkins has kept the guest books from over the years.

“There are kids who used to come as babies and now they have babies,” said Wilkins.

The Koltys family already visited the Christmas display three times this year. Three-year old Liberty loves it and it is part of their annual family tradition.

Liberty’s favorite decoration is the Dancing Santa, which sings and dances to Christmas music. The Santa is old—one of the original decorations from the time when Wilkins’ father John managed decorating the house. John started decorating the house in 1944 and it became a town and family tradition.

“It takes a big heart to do this every year,” said Wilkins, whose 14 nieces and nephews help install the display each year. It takes him and his helpers a few weeks to everything up and about a week to remove the display.

In the spring, Wilkins occasionally does an Easter display and then in October, he does an over-the-top Halloween display.

The Christmas display will be up through New Year’s Day and Santa Claus will be in his workshop every night from 6:30 to 9p.m. through Christmas Eve. The house and Santa are free, but Wilkins’ does accept donations to defray the cost of his electric bill. The house is located at Maple and 13th avenues in Glendora.

Hey Justin Wilkins, and everyone else who has an over-the-top Christmas light spectacular. Patch could pay for your December electric bill, or you could win $100,000 for township schools! Get all of the details at .