Last year, Frostland Village, an elaborate and festive light display at 23 Euclid Avenue in Pitman was named the best Christmas-themed outdoor home decoration in America. A married couple, Michael McCarty and Lyle Williams, won ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” trophy and $50,000. At the time, McCarty declared that he’d probably reinvest the money into creating future Christmas scenes. Designing them, he said, had become a passion.
Since 2016, there’s been some version of Frostland Village, which started with only a few little displays, but grew, during the COVID years, into an extensive, annually changing sensation. Through the first week of January, McCarty and Williams open their property to guests, inviting them to walk through what feels like a veritable village, take photos, and marvel at the Christmas tableaux up close. Animatronic figures that were used to decorate department stores and shopping malls are items for which the pair are always on the hunt. All year round, McCarty – an artist who works in home decor – repairs and renovates the figures and the couple’s quest for other decorations to add to the collection is never-ending.
This year’s theme is Jack Frost’s North Pole Adventure. Decked out with Christmas trees, gingerbread houses, nutcrackers, vintage blow-mold decorations (McCarty estimates they own at least 600), hand-painted backdrops and lights galore, the display — which also features a nativity scene and train sets running through miniature towns — is lit up from 5 to 10pm each night. Window-display vignettes show animatronic elves, Santa’s helpers in bakers’ hats mixing batter and decorating Christmas cookies, and Santa’s workshop abuzz with gift-wrapping activity. It’s free, though given the cheer they bring in delighting adults and kids alike, donations are accepted.
