From towering lawn displays to glittering waterfront parades, local residents are once again transforming their neighborhoods into dazzling celebrations of Christmas spirit.
On Flintlock Drive in Shirley, passersby can’t miss one of this year’s most talked-about displays: a 26-foot-tall inflatable Santa Claus standing guard over the home of William and Marilyn Bonilla. The couple, who run Little Lions A+ Childcare and U.S. Tile, installed the giant Santa after finding it on TikTok—and it has quickly become a neighborhood attraction.
“It’s incredibly popular,” William said. “People slow down, take pictures, bring their kids—we welcome everyone to stop by and enjoy it.”
Decorating with lights has been a cherished Christmas tradition for more than a century. Early celebrations drew inspiration from the custom of placing candles on evergreen trees, a practice dating back to 17th-century Germany. As electricity spread in the early 1900s, families adopted colored string lights as a safer, brighter way to symbolize hope, warmth, and the light of the holiday season.
Santa Claus, meanwhile, grew into an American icon through a blend of folklore, Clement Clarke Moore’s famous 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” and later the vivid illustrations of Haddon Sundblom, who popularized the modern red-suited figure.
That same holiday spirit shines brightly as the Patchogue River Christmas Boat Parade Association once again drew crowds to its spectacular annual event. Dozens of boat owners decorated their vessels from bow to stern, creating a floating festival of color as they cruised the river before cheering spectators. Residents lined the banks to watch the People’s Choice Award winners and the Sunday Night Parade Judge’s Trophy champions, applauding the creativity and effort that go into each illuminated craft.