Overly’s Country Christmas just kicked off its seasonal reopening yesterday evening, November 20. A beloved holiday attraction based in Greensburg, PA, the time-tested tradition of attending this supreme representation of Christmas nostalgia is to continue a celebratory highlight started nearly seven decades ago.
More than just the usual drive-through display featuring dozens of dazzling blinking lights, Overly’s overt holiday presentation features a full-fledged walk-around Christmas Village to explore at your own pace. Furthermore, the overarching ambiance of yesteryear’s seasonal sentiments does the seemingly impossible in transporting visitors, old and young alike, back into Christmas classics of long ago.
Now the site of countless caroling, model trains, wagon rides, Santa visits, and even shopping at quaint setups like C. Edgar & Sons General Store, Overly’s has a surprisingly humble origin story. From a family man’s simple desire to make his children happy by stringing lights on his house to its evolution into one of the region’s top Christmas destinations of today, for this Flashback Friday Feature, I’m offering an overview of how Overly’s Country Christmas came to be.
Evolution of a Holiday Tradition
The story begins at Christmastime, back in 1956, at the home of Harry E. Overly and his family. Like many, Harry set out to decorate his house in the spirit of the season, stringing lights and decorations. But when he observed the extent of cheerfulness his seemingly modest and simple act brought to the faces of his four children, Harry was inspired to go above and beyond. To say that he upped the ante would be an understatement. Harry was determined and motivated to hang strands of lights from both the eaves and the bushes of his rural home, meticulously intertwining the lights in such a specific and unique fashion that didn’t go unnoticed.
His perfectly aligned lights spanned miles of fencing outlining his seven-acre property. But it wasn’t just about the lights, as Harry went on to garner another notable claim to fame. He was one of the first people ever to add animated displays to his holiday décor.
Year after year, Harry expanded his holiday displays, improving every presentation accordingly. No longer were the delights reserved exclusively for his family’s contentment; the fruits of Overly’s labor began charming the entire surrounding community as a major area attraction. And it wasn’t long after that that even folks from far and wide started coming out to experience the enchanting wonder for themselves.
Motivated by positive feelings and sentiments, several neighbors and area locals volunteered to assist Harry directly by getting into the act of serving multiple roles themselves. Takes varied from hands-on decorating to offering to play parts in character roles, such as Santa, Mrs. Claus, and elves. It was already obvious to all that Overly’s was on the rise to emerging into an annual holiday tradition.
From Cheer to Charity
A few years later, while assuming the role of Santa Claus himself, Harry was struck by a revolutionary new idea to utilize his Christmas Village in the act of charitable giving. His inspiration came when a visiting woman handed him a dollar out of appreciation for her experience. When Harry tried to explain that there was no charge to see the lights, the woman replied by encouraging him to give the money to his favorite charity.
At that point, Harry figured that by operating as a charity, he could give all proceeds raised back to benefit children’s causes specifically. So that’s what they decided to do. In all of the 35 years that the lights were displayed at the Overly home, nearly a million dollars have been raised by donations from cars passing by and later via an annual preview cocktail party. The first one million dollars were donated to the Free Care Fund at Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital and children’s medical services at Westmoreland Regional Hospital in Greensburg by the Overly family.
‘Heartfelt’ Help
Shortly after the winter season of 1983-84, Harry suffered a heart attack and was forced to slow down a bit. Under the recommendation of his doctors, he would forgo decorating his house himself the following year.
By then, Harry had plenty of friends, neighbors, and other allies throughout the community eager to lend a hand and help out. Some even donated to the cause. Others actively got to work in all the physical labor such preparations required. From local school groups to business associates, individuals, and others, everyone was eager to give back to the man who gave them so much holiday cheer over the years.
A Lasting Legacy
After so many years of being the home base for the Christmas displays, Harry Overly announced in 1991 that he would no longer showcase his lights at his family home. Instead, he would search out a new, larger location that could contain even grander crowds and audiences. Idlewild Park in Ligonier agreed to be the hosting site for the 1992 holiday season and temporarily. By 1993, Westmoreland Fairgrounds near Greensburg was selected as the new home for the displays.
A year later, in 1994, Harry officially established his cause as a nonprofit corporation to ensure that his work would continue when he was no longer able. Although he passed away in 1998, his legacy still lives on today, with devoted volunteers and enduring community commitment continuing to run all operations to this day.
Consider coming out to experience Overly’s for yourself. Now open through December 30, visit the calendar listing for select date and time listings. They are located at 116 Blue Ribbon Lane
Greensburg, PA 15601. Visit www.overlys.com for all other information.