For a complete list of holiday light displays, check out our Champaign-Urbana Area Christmas Lights Guide.
By Kelly Youngblood
For more than 30 years, the Schoonovers have been decking a lot more than just the halls of their home at 701 N. Timberview Dr. in Mahomet.
This year, the popular holiday display that boasts more than 100,000 lights will include a surprise addition.
George Schoonover said he’s added a new “large” piece to the display. But the proprietor of Schoonover Sewer Service in Mahomet said he is keeping the new addition under wraps.
“You will have to come out and see if you can determine what the new piece is!” Schoonover said. “That will be fun for the kids!”
George and Dixie Schoonover’s zest for lights and holiday decorating, which has earned them a title as The Clark Griswold House — from “Christmas Vacation” fame — is well known throughout the community.
A drive by the couple’s Mahomet residence and the spectacular light display is a holiday tradition for many families in the area.
It’s also a special tradition for the Schoonovers, who say the entire family, including grandchildren and close friends, help put up the decorations each year.
Despite the challenges they encounter (they have to rent a bucket truck in order to get the lights to the top of the trees), they keep doing it because of the positive reaction they get from community.
“We have had many visitors come to the door just to say thank you,” Schoonover said.
In years’ past, the display has included lights all over the house, a Santa village, a toy shop, Alvin and the Chipmunks singing, and two-story Evergreen trees wrapped from top to bottom with lights.
So will you be able to spot the new addition to the spectacular light display this year? You’ll have to drive by to find out!
The display lights up on Dec. 6 and stays on through New Year’s Eve. The musical talents of Alvin and the Chipmunks stay on until 9 p.m. and the lights remain lit until 10 p.m. On Christmas Eve, music and lights stay on until 11 p.m.