Elvis and the Christmas Lights Spectacular in Mahwah, New Jersey (Bergen County)

Every family has a tradition that marks the beginning of the Christmas season. When my mom was a little girl, it was coming home from church Thanksgiving morning in time to see Santa in the Macy's Parade. When I was growing up, our tradition was going to see a house a couple towns away that had an awesome lights display. The tradition began to lag as we got older, as our family tradition was shared by more and more people, to the point of requiring police to direct traffic around the house. The display is on a dead end in Mahwah, New Jersey, and has become quite the tourist attraction.

It all started with a wealthy Elvis impersonator who went a little overboard with his Christmas lights. He has "the king" on his rooftop, along with Marilyn Monroe and some other characters! Neighbors joined in, and now one can travel through the two cul-de-sacs and enjoy a rare spectacle. They have lights on islands in the middle of ponds, along grass and trees and bushes, even completely lining walls. There are so many lights involved that, as one website pointed out, " An article in the Bergen Record [local paper]...mentioned it cost $200/night to power the Christmas Lights and that there were 12 electrical substations on the property to handle the load" (see http://www.fourfold.ca/billm/Misc/Christmas/2004/ElvisHouseInMahwah/ElvisHouse.htm). An attentive viewer can find Lady Liberty and Father Christmas, and if you step out of your car, you should even hear some music.

As I said, the attraction has grown so much that Mahwah police officers are needed on the weekend to direct traffic. Last time I went to see them a few years ago, we sat in traffic for a good 45 minutes before even getting to the streets. But, as long as you have good company and maybe a snack, the wait is well worth it.

The "Elvis House", as it has come to be called, is located on Victoria Lane in Mahwah, New Jersey, which is about a half hour outside of New York City (depending on the traffic, of course). To get there, take NJ Route 17 to the Rt. 202-Ramapo Valley Road Exit toward Oakland, which is all the way up Rt. 17, almost into New York State. Go down Ramapo Valley Road past Ramapo College of NJ. Pause and do me the favor of giving my alma mater a wave! Right past the college, you will turn left onto Darlington, then very shortly take your first right onto Campgaw. Drive down Campgaw about a mile. When you are forced to stop behind a long line of waiting cars stopped ahead of you, you will know that you have arrived on line.

I encourage you, if you are in the Bergen County area, or even if you are in New York City and want to venture into the suburbs, to check out this spectacle. It is truly one-of-a-kind. Sadly, now I am far away in Virginia, and my Christmas season starts the day after Thanksgiving when I turn on the radio in the car, and hear Christmas carols for the first time, generally causing a groan as I am reminded that I should probably start my Christmas shopping. Ah how I long for the good old days, with Elvis wishing me a Merry Christmas.