As the days get shorter, Windemere Place gets brighter with the season’s beautiful Christmas lights. Windemere Place is not a typical neighborhood during Christmas time.

Some families started putting up Christmas lights even before Thanksgiving, but most put them up the day after.  Almost every house puts up Christmas lights, ranging from elegant to tacky arrangements. It’s impossible to miss the beautiful decorations, even with countless cars touring the neighborhood.

Trish Deatrick, a 17-year resident of Windemere Place, has put lights up every year since moving into the neighborhood. She does so because “putting up Christmas lights is a neighborhood tradition, and lots of people come and see the lights. Just seeing their enjoyment is great.”

It takes Trish a long time to put up her lights; she does it over a period of two days. Trish describes her subdivision as having “a very popular and fun atmosphere, with lots of cars driving by to look at lights.”

Daniel Deatrick, Trish’s son, helps put up the lights with his mother. His favorite part is when he finishes and sees what they did. Daniel said, “Other people who don’t live in this neighborhood think that we are very dedicated to put up lights. The worst part about putting up lights is the cold; it’s a lot of work, and you have to do yard work before you put the lights up, but it’s worth it.”

Pat Crush, who has lived in Windemere Place for 23 years, has put up lights every year. He puts up lights because “it helps spread the Christmas cheer and holiday spirit.”

Crush’s favorite thing is getting his sons together and working on the lights. Crush describes the neighborhood as “a winter wonderland, and you can just tell by looking at all the cars that drive through to see the decorations.”

Since Thanksgiving, Windemere Place has been ready to amaze the “tourists.”

Gallery • 15 Photos

The Windemere Place neighborhood photos by Cole Crush