Levittown Home Will Light It Up With Santa on Saturday

Neil DiSpirito and his 20 volunteers will be hard at work for the next few days putting the finishing touches on his highly anticipated, annual Christmas light display. Even though DiSpirito has decked practically every inch of his home with lights and decorations for the past 21 years, he still finds himself coming down to the wire.

"I'll be working on the lights until midnight tonight, then round-the-clock shifts for us on Friday," said DiSpirito. "Saturday will be complete mayhem. Our goal this year is to break 150,000 lights, but it's going to be tough considering the weather we've been having."

DiSpirito's 21st annual "Light It Up With Santa" falls on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, so he will fly his flag at half staff until 5:55 p.m., when the evening's festivities will kick off with the National Anthem sung by the Men Of Harmony Chorus.  

Located at 1 White Spruce Lane in the Willowood section of Levittown, the house will light up after the Anthem and guide Santa Claus' arrival by firetruck. DiSpirito says that Santa will stay until he speaks to every child and awards them a candy cane. The Men Of Harmony will also be staying to perform a 20 minute concert of traditional Christmas carols. The first 500 children to arrive will also receive a free pretzel and juice box. 

DiSpirito says his 20-volunteer crew, ranging in ages 13 to 83, spend approximately eight weeks preparing his home, four weeks of vacation, and four weeks of nights and weekends.  

"We have never had a collection box, do not accept donations, and are not entered in any of the holiday decorating contests," said DiSpirito. "This is something that has been done from the very beginning for the children of our community by a group of my friends and family I call 'the best crew that money can't buy.'

For the first time, DiSpirito has added a contest to Saturday's unveiling. The winner of the Smart Phone Video Contest will get to come back with their family and turn on the lights on Christmas Eve. The following requirements must bemet to enter the contest:

1. Use your smartphone to make a three minute video at 1 White Spruce Lane on Saturday December 7th that captures “The Spirit Of Christmas”.
2. Name your video something that includes the words “ThatsAlotOfLights.com”, (or imbed a link to ThatsAlotOfLights.com in the video) and upload it to YouTube by December 15th.
   
3. Send an E-mail with a link to your YouTube video to: Contest@ThatsAlotOfLights.com.  Be sure to include your daytime telephone number in the E-mail for notification if you win.