Twinkle tour time: From Kidron to Doylestown, homes at holidays light up night
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA McCUNE
Holiday lighting enthusiasts have another week to enjoy the Peppard Memorial Light Display at 13499 Emerson Road in Kidron. Donations are welcome anytime to Wishes Can Happen, which is the organization the family supports in honor of Bobby Peppard’s brother, David.
PHOTOS BY ROBERT McCUNE
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Tom Hammond, of Doylestown, who calls himself a Christmas lighting enthusiast, has created a light display that is animated to music and watchable and controllable from anywhere in the world. Visit www.itwinkle.org to see the display, learn how it works, and even how to make your own.
KIDRON Load up your sleigh, wagon, tractor, buggy, car, van – or if you are close enough to walk that’s even better – and head over to 13499 Emerson Road in Kidron.
About a week and a half remains until the big day that many in our area celebrate. A countdown to Christmas on a small tree-shaped sign shows the numbers prominently at Peppards Memorial Light Display not too far from the square in Kidron. The countdown is next to a writeup about Bobby Peppard’s brother, David, who died from leukemia at only 16 and is the inspiration behind the display that grows each year.
Visitors have an opportunity to make a donation toward Wishes Can Happen.
This month marks the last time that people can park in the business parking lot across the street after hours and walk around the Pep-pards’ Kidron home all aglow after the sun sets. The Peppards are moving.
Don’t worry, the lights, inflatables and holiday fun will continue. The Peppards are building a house in Marshallville. For the 10th year of the display, their plans are to make the display even bigger and better.
Peppard explains to followers on the Facebook page that with the move, people will have the option to walk or drive through the display at their new location in Marshallville and they will have a petting zoo open on some nights with their goats, bunnies, horse and duck. Beginning in 2022, the family plans for more handmade items, along with continuing to expand the inflatables by a substantial number over the next few years.
This year, the display has 82 inflatables and about 12,000 lights. Anyone is welcome to walk through and take pictures 5-11 p.m. through Dec. 25.
At the end, they are welcome to make a donation to Wishes Can Happen if they choose to do so. Peppard shares on his Facebook page about his younger brother who was undergoing cancer treatment in 2005. Through Wishes Can Happen, David had his wish granted to attend a Cleveland Indians game. “He had a total blast going behind the scenes and being around for batting practice and everything,” Peppard wrote.
In 2007, David passed away.
“We wanted to do something to honor him as well as help Wishes Can Happen,” Peppard wrote. “So in 2013, we started doing what we do and taking donations and lighting up the street in the process.”
One hundred percent of the donations go to Wishes Can Happen, which is all volunteer, Peppard wrote. By the eighth year of the display, donations totaled $6,700.
Dazzling display in Doylestown
About 30 minutes north of Kidron, in Doylestown, Tom Hammond, who calls himself a Christmas lighting enthusiast, has created a light display that is animated to music and watchable and controllable from anywhere in the world.
If you don’t want to make that trip to Doylestown, just visit www.itwinkle.org to see the display, learn how it works, and even how to make your own.
