Many families, including mine, enjoy going hog- wild with outdoor Christmas lights and decorations, but the Koziar Family of Berks County, PA may be the undisputed champions. If you like “Christmassy outings” and are within driving distance of the Reading, PA area, you really should check this place out! 🎅🏻

It started modestly back in 1948 when William Koziar began decorating his family’s farm home just for their own amusement and holiday spirit. Each year they added a few new items, and soon the place became known to locals as “the Christmas house.” The tradition has continued ever since, and now the Koziar home is recognized by many as one of the greatest outdoor Christmas light displays in the world! I haven’t seen every display in the world, but I can’t imagine the Koziar place not being a contender.

The first part of the fun is arriving. GPS said we were pretty close, but all we saw along the hilly, dark, farm roads were empty fields. At some point, when we crested one of the hills, the landscape lit up in an explosion of color as the farm became visible on the horizon.

The Village is open everyday during the holiday season, but only for the early evening hours. We joined the line of people waiting outside the gate, wanting to get in right at 6pm to maximize viewing time. Tickets are $10-$20 per person, depending on when you go. I like to take in everything slowly, so it took us about a full 3 hours to go through all the exhibits and to see everything. They have displays up recounting almost every Christmas story there is, so if you like to read like we do, make sure you aren’t rushed for time.

Once inside the grounds, you can just explore the whole area on your own- no guided tour is needed, although they do have a path marked that insures you won’t miss anything. They have several small shops and snack bars around too, so you can duck in there for a few minutes if things get too cold outside. There is really a lot to see here, and the original Koziar house still stands in the center of the property, overflowing with displays and lights. It’s a perfect 10 on the holiday spirit scale!

At the end of the season, the family and crew actually take down every single light and display! The decorations are so extensive, that we thought they might just leave them up all year, repairing and maintaining as needed. Instead, they meticulously remove, restore, and pack away everything until the following fall, when the process starts all over again.

If you’re into Christmas lights, this is a must-see and a great place to bring the family. Pictures don’t really do it justice- you have to go see it in person! 🎅🏻

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