812-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 9, 1995 One of the scenes from Overly’s Country Christmas is the western town. Lights define a row of store fronts and country scenes from whip-cracking wagon drivers to cows, chickens, and animated horses. The lights will be on- every night from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. through Jan. 14. Lights By The Thousands Brighten Fairgrounds DAVID HIEBERT Westmoreland Co. Correspondent ARMBRUST (Westmoreland Co.) Imagine this: The biggest Christmas light dis play you’ve ever seen: 750,000 lights, drawing enough power to fully supply about 57 homes. Sound like too much to believe? Well, the bright and popular tradi tion of animated lights and holiday scenes, orginally on Hairy Over ly’s farm near Armbrust, has been hosted by the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds since 1993. The growing exhibit benefits area children’s organizations. In this holiday season, many families adorn their homes and farms with lights and special deco rations. One tradition that has out grown its original location is Over ly’s County Christmas, a tradition in its 39th season. New this year are additional light displays and an emphasis on smaller light exhibits which people can observe as they walk through the exhibition, according to Jane Sibenaller, who works with the exhibit. Volunteers are crucial to the success of this program. They began working several weeks before the display opened. Local volunteers do minor con struction. set up animated displays, paint, and test lights. Last year, “Santa’s elves” tested and plugged in more than 17,000 strands of lights. Though electrical or wood working skills are helpful, almost anyone can help get things put together. After the setup is complete, 4S-S0 volunteers help each night, playing Santa, Mrs. Claus, or an elf. They work in the gift shop, admissions booth, take Santa pic tures. or help visitors in other ways. Many of the adult volunteers arc people who as children were delighted by the display at Over ly’s home. In the past, local organizations, clubs, and school groups have worked on the light display together. If you are interested in volun teering, contact Linda Brady at Overly’s Country Christmas. (412) 423-1400. With the donated labor, funds raised for children’s charities keep growing each year. In 1994 about $47,000 was donated to area orga nizations whose work benefits children. This year about $57,000 went to 10 organizations. All donated funds are channeled through the Overly Charitable Foundation, which evaluates requests from organizations whose work benefits sick or abused children. During the day, the numerous cords and wires turn the fair grounds into a spaghetti bowl of plastic coated copper, but at night the lights appear magical and new delights art seen at every turn. Vis itors may drive through the fair grounds to see the many scenes and animated sets, such as the Harry Overly, founder of the Overly Charitable Founda tion, started putting up lights to delight his four children in the 19505. Today his light display, Overly’s Country Christ mas, is hosted by the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds and has gained national recognition. Harry poses appropri ately with his grandchildren. playground with slides, swings, and teetertotters. With many other public exhibits emphasizing a drive-by view, Overly’s includes small elements that can help visi tors remember the days when we lived on a more humble scale. After a drive through view of the lights, visitors might visit the life sized nativity scene with living animals, drink hot chocolate around the outdoor family bonfire, or shop in the Country Christmas Gift Shop. The country kitchen features car-grilled hot-dogs and hamburgers, hot and cold bever- [Turn to Pap* B 15) SEE YOUR NEAREST DEALER FOR DEPENDABLE EQUIPMENT & SERVICE j.-PENNSYIVANtA Annvllle. PA BHM Farm Equipment, Inc. RD 1, Rte. 934 717-867-2211 Carlisle. PA R&W Equipment Co. 35 East Willow Street 717-243-2686 Messick Farm Equipment. Inc. Rt. 283 - Rheem's Exit 717-367-1319 Halifax. PA Sweigard Bros. R.D. 3. Box 13 717-896-3414 Norman D. Clark & Son, Inc. Honey Grove, PA 717-734-3682 ' Loysville, PA 717-789-3117 S.G. Lewis & Son, Inc. 352 N. Jennersville Rd. 610-869-2214 1-800-669-9029 MARYLAND Frederick. MD Ceresville Ford New Holland, Inc. Rt. 26 East 301-662-4197 Outside MD, 800-331-9122 Li lkß Bridoaton. wj ™njnqwn. WJ Leslie G. Fogg, Smith Tractor Inc. Equip., Inc. Canton & Stow Creek . Landing Rd. 908-689-7900 609-451-2727 609-635-5145 e kwhouard Dependable Motor Co. East Main Street 215-273-3131 215-273-3737 A.B.C. Groff, Inc. 110 South Railroad 717-354-4191 OIQY. PA C.J. Wonsidler Bros. R.D. 2 215-987-6257 Pitman. PA Schreffler Equipment Pitman, PA 717-648-1120 Tamaaua. PA Charles S. Snyder, Inc. R.D.3 717-386-5945 - 'i* Owen Supply Co. Broad Street & East Avenue 609-769-0308
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