Christmas in Davidsonville Is Christmas at Homestead Gardens

Used to be, a long time ago, that you could go to the downtown part of your town and see the window displays at Christmastime. Some places would just put a few things up, but there were always a few that went all out with lights and characters and decorations that made you think, "How'd they do that?"

Aside from visiting the big department stores in New York and Chicago, there isn't really much of an art to Christmas displays in the retail world these days. At least not ones designed to tickle your imagination (they're mostly there to encourage you to buy two sweaters instead of just one).

But at in Davidsonville, they still take their Christmas decorating seriously. Care is given to the setup of their miniature villages in the Department 56 section. When the train is up and running, there is a full time conductor (in overalls and a conductor's cap) working the rails, tinkering with the mechanics or pulling trains off the track so they don't overheat.

It takes months to plan and order supplies and materials for the extravaganza of displays. But when it is ready for the public to see, it is pretty spectacular.

The display of ceramic houses, businesses and other structures in the Department 56 section is like seeing what a miniature town would really look like, with ice skating children and ducks swimming around in the pond.

Of course the shop has plenty of things for sale, like Christmas trees and ornaments as well as poinsettias, amaryllis and paperwhites.

So, there can be a reason for you to stop by. But reason or not, the whole family will enjoy the displays just like families used to do a half-century ago.