After over an hour’s traffic crawl on two-lane back roads, we crested a hill and saw the village below us. Festive lighting covering acres was joy in the darkness. To me, it has always been the hope and defiance of lighting a candle in the darkness that fuels my love of Christmas lights. Hope, joy and a belief in miracles is shared among us, Christmas lights, Chanukah candles, Diwali.
These lights, in this darkness are a riot of color reflected in a farm lake. The Koziar family started their lighting in 1948. Because the family so enjoyed it, each year more decorations were added. First the house, then the barn, then displays caused people to start driving out to see the what became the Christmas Village. At first, visitors simply pulled over and parked, partly on the road and partly in the field. Eventually so many visitors came the family bought a lot for parking.
The display is a delightful mix of the old and the new decorations, twinkling lights and toy trains. Old toys and dolls inhabit the little village stores and houses, contrasting with the new LED tree and ten-foot lighted penguins. Once inside, the visitors are at their leisure to walk around all the displays. We laughed and enjoyed the old-timey plywood cut out figures and scratched our heads at the Christmas Brachiosaurus. Kids were running about having a raucous great time.
The night was a cold one, below freezing, and although we dressed for it, the few heated shops were welcome, especially the ones with hot chocolate. Strolling about on a cold, December night, sipping hot chocolate with family the darkness was truly well lighted.
If you are taking children, and the little ones seemed to love the village, plan ways to amuse them in the car. And at the risk of being indelicate, potty management is an issue. Once parked, if you are in a hurry, the cash line moves fastest. Even adults were in a hurry and making a bee line for the rest rooms inside the village. There are porta potties in the parking lot as well.
Koziar's Christmas Village
Clare Novak travels far and near. She started her travel website and blogs in 2018, seeking to share the world’s beauty and delightful experiences. Ms. Novak is an international consultant in Human Resources, Gender Equality and Leadership. She has published business books and articles and speak