Lighting contest in Kingsland inspires the Christmas spirit
KINGSLAND — Even though Charlie Chitwood wins first or second prize each year in the community lighting contest, he said it’s not the awards that inspire him to turn his Kingsland property into an inflatable wonderland.
“We just put them up for the enjoyment of people getting to see them,” he said of his Christmas display, which stretches across three lots on RR 2545 about a mile off RR 1431. “I’m 61 years old and getting tired. I keep telling my wife every year, ‘It’s the last year.’”
PHOTO: Charlie Chitwood’s property features dozens of glowing, moving and flashing inflatables on three lots on RR 2545 a mile off RR 1431 in Kingsland. Staff photo by Connie Swinney
Instead, his display keeps growing.
Along with more than 40 glowing, moving and flashing inflatables, he added a number of new pieces and expanded the themed sections.
Additional features include a penguin colony with a mechanical igloo and jack-in-the-box from which penguins slowly pop out of the top; a 20-foot snowman surrounded by half a dozen smaller ones, including a shivering snowman holding a sign that reads, “B-r-r-r”; and a rare, inflatable Nativity scene with a smiling baby Jesus.
“We try to change it up every year,” he said.
Santa’s diverse roles sets Chitwood’s display apart. His inflatables include Santa in a helicopter on the carport, Santa in a 20-foot hot-air balloon, an 8-foot Santa in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, Santa in a firetruck and Santa in a giant, flashing snowglobe.
Chitwood even dresses as Santa much to the delight of visitors.
“People, kids and adults come by to take pictures,” he said. “Last year, I had a 60-year-old woman bring her 80-something-year-old mother to come take a picture with Santa.”
Kingsland Chamber of Commerce representative Charlotte Dilworth said displays like Chitwoods have inspired more Kingsland residents to light up their properties for the holidays, attracting people to the community as well as more entries for the contest.
“You see more of the neighborhoods getting together,” she said.
Categories include business, residential, neighborhood and lakeside.
The River’s Edge RV Park, just off RR 1431 east of Lookout Mountain, is best known for winning first prize in the neighborhood category each year with thousands of lights and dozens of lighted sculptures. The judging is scheduled for Dec. 18-19.
“We have seen more decorations (throughout the community),” Dilworth said. “They get involved in the Christmas spirit, Christmas activities, and it’s fun.”
connie@thepicayune.com