A Hatfield family has hit the national spotlight for its annual Christmas display that would make Clark Griswold envious – one that filled up two tractor-trailers during multiple moves cross-country.
ABC released a promo clip this week of the Michael Family via Instagram and shared on Facebook, as it prepares (filmed last year) its yard as part of Season 11 of "The Great Christmas Light Fight” competition show. The Michael Family episode premieres Dec. 19 at 9 p.m.
This year’s Michael Family display will light up its 80,000 bulbs on Dec. 1, according to the family’s Facebook page. While the home is located in Towamencin Township, Hatfield is used as the location for the family for promotional purposes.
In the promo, the Michael Family, led by dad Brian, is seen staking poles every four feet as part of their display setup.
"My love for Christmas decorating began as a kid,” said Brian in the promo clip. "We grew up in an apartment and we decked that place out big time.”
He said the apartment unit had a Christmas decoration contest, and his family won first prize.
"Our display is so massive, we moved across country twice, and it took almost two 18-wheeler tractor-trailers just to move the Christmas decorations,” Brian said.
The Michael Family display features more than 600 vintage 1950s and 1960s blow-mold decorations collected over the past quarter-century.
"There’s always room for more blow molds,” Brian said in the promo. "We’re preserving that history of Christmas so everybody can enjoy it today.”
The Michael Family matriarch, Kim, cannot help as she used to, being confined to a wheelchair. She has faced new challenges in her diagnosis of ataxia, a neurological disorder of the muscles that causes clumsy voluntary movements, and difficulty with walking and keeping balance, hand coordination, speech and swallowing, and eye movements. It affects the part of the cerebellum that controls muscle coordination.
"I have trouble speaking and limited mobility,” Kim said in the promo, "and it is hard to do daily tasks, let alone help Brian with the display.”
Brian said the display brings the celebration of Christmas from inside to outside.
"We’re going to win this, guys,” he said in the video. "Whether vintage or new, we have what it takes to make the best display.”
The Michaels are competing for a $50,000 grand prize and a Light Fight trophy.
According to the family, the filming of the display was completed in November 2022. In the episode, celebrity judge Taniya Nayak visits the Manfire, Swenson, Michael, and Smith family Christmas displays, where she evaluates the use of lights, overall design, and Christmas spirit.
The show broadcasts on 6ABC and can also be found on streaming platforms such as Hulu, Disney+, Apple, and several others.
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