Cruising down Beulah Road you may see a twinkle of lights as you approach Bellbluff Road, after a turn onto Bellbluff, it suddenly transports one into what appears to be Christmas Town.
Ronnie and Melody Kittell put their all into the project.
The Kittell family is seeking to spread a little Christmas cheer.
It didn’t start out as such a huge undertaking.
“It all began with one navity scene,” said Melody Kittell, “ my husband’s dad loved Christmas and that inspired us.”
From that humble beginning the family now has an amazing display and it continues to grow.
Melody said that they add one new item each year.
No small task, to create a work of that magnitude takes a lot of planning.
According to Melody, setting up the display begins when school starts and usually takes until after Thanksgiving. Our family and friends help us set-up, we couldn’t do alone, she said.
On the house top is a huge lighted display sign that reads “Peace On Earth.” We really do need peace on Earth, Melody said, we hope that maybe our sign will get people to reflect on that. We also need to be more forgiving.”
The display includes a mailbox to Santa. Melody knows a secret about that mailbox. “Children can drop off letters to Santa in that box,” Melody said with her eyes shining, “and if the letters have a return address, Santa replies.”
Lights flash and twinkle, merry-go-rounds slowly spin, nativity dot the landscape, Santa and his sleigh is flying across the sky, gingerbread men stand like sentinels, Christmas themed tunes play and lots more. It tickles the imagination, invigorates the spirit and for a little while, all the distractions of the world cannot reach you.
So how much does this cornucopia of Christmas delight ping the wallet?
We plan ahead for it and prepare, Melody explained, it costs around $1,000 or so. The power company loves us, she added with a smile. Sometimes when people come by they give us donations, we give those donations to the Chesterfield Food Bank.
The Kittells say they try to be considerate of their neighbors and don’t leave the lights on late at night or have their music too loud. “If our neighbors are having something over at their homes, we turn our music even lower,” said Melody. “And with the traffic coming down this road to see the lights, if our neighbors have company or something at their homes going on, Ronnie will direct traffic for them.” Melody says so far there haven’t been any complaints.
On December 19, there will be a special visitor and event at the Kittells. We will have a tent up and free popcorn and kids can talk to Santa, Melody said. All are welcome!
Does the endless stream of visitors get annoying? We love it when people come, Melody said happily.
The family has faithfully been spreading the Christmas spirit for over thirty years.
2 Comments
This is the most beautiful house there is!!! We have been coming there for years and all our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren ask to go and see the house over and over each year. Thank you for your hard work to spread so much joy to other people!!!
It is so beautiful. A must see for everyone. .