If your life has been affected by the COVID pandemic and you feel as if there’s a cloud of darkness hanging over you, travel to 103 Forrest Place, Moorhead, where thousands of lights are on display to brighten your world (pun definitely intended).
The location on Forrest Place is appropriately named because you will view an enchanted forest of secular and religious lighted images which will brighten your spirits.
Santa’s elves weren’t quite sure if they wanted to spend the countless hours wrapping the live trees with thousands of lights, putting up countless fabricated trees of strings of lights, lining the street with thousands of royal blue colored lights, outlining the suspended airplanes with white lights, and stringing brilliant white lights as a canopy over the driveway. However, Taskmaster Mr. Jimmy Lloyd feels this year more so 103 Forrest Place needs to be a shining light of HOPE during this unprecedented pandemic. So he commanded his Elves to proceed as usual!! Homeowner Gail Oswalt is in full agreement that this beacon of light and HOPE be visible and a gift for all to enjoy. Chester Pond, founder of Moorhead, who lived in the historic big house would be so pleased with such a display.
This is the twelfth year that Lloyd and borrowed Elves have worked their magic to strategically place over 250,000 plus LED lights. To emphasize the true meaning of Christmas, there are three large crosses outlined with white lights in addition to a brilliant white Star of Bethlehem which is symbolic of the star that guided the Wise Men to the Christ child.
Close to the street is a huge Merry Christmas sign with red and green lights. A huge Noel sign in red is close to the street also. Noel comes from a Latin verb which means to be born, so this sign is most appropriate in announcing the birth of Jesus. Also near the street are suspended agricultural planes which are outlined with white lights.
As you look to the south of the two houses through the many lighted trees, you will see two metal fighter jets outlined with white and blue lights mounted on a wall which is covered with purple lights. This display is in memory of the 15 Marines and the one Navy Corpsman aboard the Yanky72 plane which crashed near Moorhead in July, 2017. Leading to the planes is a runway outlined with green lights. This runway is available to Santa whether he comes to Moorhead by plane or sleigh. Just to the right of the jets attached to the house is the American Flag with the appropriately placed red, white and blue lights.
The rooftops of the two houses are outlined with white lights. Live trees are wrapped with various colors of lights. Some are multicolor, some are white, and some are solid color. One live tree in particular is stunning with lights that resemble teardrops falling. Fabricated trees of various heights and colors are strategically placed throughout the yard and on both sides of the street. They range from six to forty feet tall. Most are solid colors of magenta, royal blue, white, red, green, and pink (for breast cancer awareness). Some are covered with multicolored lights. This palette of lights will leave you in awe.
Lloyd’s deceased mother, Mary Elizabeth Lloyd, is his inspiration for continuing to work long hours on this Winter Wonderland because she loved Christmas lights and glitter. However, this year’s display is in honor and memory of many loved ones who are fighting COVID or who have died of COVID. It is also dedicated to those on the front lines in the medical field and first responders who tirelessly are sacrificing their time, talents, and efforts, and sometimes their lives in battling this pandemic.
The display is easily found in Moorhead. Turn south on Hwy 3 off Hwy 82 and look for the Winter Wonderland lights as you cross the railroad tracks. The lights are on every night through New Year’s Day. Lloyd invites all to load the kids in the car and come and enjoy the lights. Take pictures or stop long enough to video the display.
To help defray expenses of the lights, huge electric bill, and cost of labor to set up and break down the display, there is a donation box next to the street. So drop in a donation. Also bring pencil and paper and allow the kids to write a note to “Mr. Jimmy” thanking him for the wonderful experience and drop the note in the box.
Y’all be good now. You know Santa and the Elf on the Shelf are watching.
