Huge Holiday Display Lights Up The Sky In Hillsborough: Video

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — For the past two decades, the Volpe family has been sharing their huge holiday light display at their home with the community. (See video of the entire display below)

The Volpe's moved to 16 White Meadow Road in Hillsborough in 2001 with six kids and started small with their display.

"It began with a little blow-up display or two. And since then it has grown and grown," said Denise Volpe.

Denise credits her electrician and inventor husband Sal with creating the enormous holiday masterpiece.

When asked how many displays they now have, Denise joked and said "I just know we have five garages full of stuff!"

The display includes 50 blow-ups; a dancing Santa Clause, Mrs. Claus and Grinch; synchronized lights; 15,000-light pixel screens; music; a manger scene; and a three-story Christmas light tree that has around 25 strands of lights each with 400 lights per strand totaling 10,000 lights just for the tree.

Looking up above, visitors can see Snoopy flying a plane and Santa in his sleigh both 30 feet above the ground.

On the ground, there is a snow machine filled with homemade liquid. Sal used to purchase the liquid on Amazon, but their neighbor Jill Lerman figured out how to make it.

"Jill is our biggest fan," said Denise.

By the end of each night, there is about 5 inches of snow left on the ground.

Sal has also modified a ride-on Thomas the Train toy that his kids used to play using a car battery to move on its own. Now it circles a track and has headlights and music. Sal estimates the train has traveled more than 250 miles at this point.

The Volpes also have a mailbox out front for Letters to Santa. They do their best to mail back each letter that arrives.

"This is just a labor of love," said Denise. "He was doing it for our six kids but now he does it for all of the kids in town."

When guests show up, Denise is sure to come out and hand candy canes to the kids.

"He doesn't do it for the money or glory. We always say he is part-elf," said Denise.

Since the popularity of the display has grown over the years, their neighbor Lerman has set up a Food Panty donation box where she collects non-perishable items to donate after the holidays when the food banks are sparse.

"Last year we had a small child put their piggy bank in the box with coins and rupees," said Lerman.

Lerman enjoys the display and even said her daughter who was abroad at college was looking forward to seeing it when she gets home.

"It's fun and bright. It lightens up your mood," said Lerman. "It's just nice. It's festive and brings out the best in people."

Sal Volpe said he begins to set up his display around Thanksgiving and despite the cold temperatures, as long as he has his Christmas music playing he is good to go.

"Every Thanksgiving we record our toast of what everyone is thankful for. I have those on my mp3 player and I listen to them as I work. I have my son when he was 2 years old on there," said Sal.

A few years ago, the Volpe's display won the township's Home for the Holidays Decorating Contest and continues to be named year after year.

Sal said people can look forward to his display for years to come.

"I don't want to let people down.I know they really like it," said Sal. "I gotta keep doing it as long as I can."

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