Small Temple Terrace Neighborhood Makes Big Splash Each Christmas Season

At just about any other time of the year, this little nook of houses on a one-block stretch of Hyaleah Road in Temple Terrace sits quietly under the many trees that provide a natural barrier to shade the homes from the brutal Florida sun, almost like the houses are sitting in a forest.

But this patch of trees comes absolutely alive each Christmas season as the homes and the neighbors combine to erect one of the prettiest displays of Christmas lights in Hillsborough County.

The neighbors get into the holiday spirit the day after Thanksgiving when they have sort of a neighborhood block party, helping each other erect enough colorful lights to turn night into day. They even run lights across the street from house to house, giving the street sort of an Ybor City feel to it.

Many of the houses have their lights on timers, set to turn on at roughly 6 p.m. and turning off anywhere from 11 p.m. to midnight.

As soon as the lights come on and the sun sets, the little street not just comes alive in light, but cars full of onlookers creep down the street, often with their lights turned off to enjoy the full effect.

On Christmas Eve, the neighbors really get into the spurt of the holidays. The neighborhood children hand out candy canes to the stream of cars visiting. The adults will be out an about to, and if the mood strikes, eggnog will be shared, if not other adult beverages as the neighbors welcome the visitors and offer warm-felt season greetings. 

Ray Bears has been in the neighborhood since 2000. He said it's a tradition that began roughly 20 years and whoever moved into the neighborhood kept up the tradition.

Even if a house is empty and for sale, the neighbors bond to fill its front yard with Christmas lights.

"Even the scrooge over there," Bears pointed to a house where he said the owner does not participate in the tradition, but allows his neighbors to put up lights in his front yard.

"It's the busiest time of the year," Bears joked. He said his power bill rises maybe $50 in the month of December due to his elaborate display.

Down the road Kristina and Tim Wise marvel at the bonding of the neighbors for Christmas. They are relative newcomers to the area but they jumped into the tradition with gusto, often helping put up lights that dangle over Hyaleah Road.

Tim Wise wasn't sure how much the lights bump up his power bill in December but he said his average bill each December is around $160-170.