Intergenerational neighbors make holidays magic with the Miracle on S. 13th Street light display
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Paid Sponsor Partnership: Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
The Miracle on South 13th Street Holiday Light Display is chock-full of holiday spirit.
"As soon as you walk down here, there's an uplift," says Max Bier, who lives in the 1600 block of South 13th Street in Philadelphia.
People come from all around to experience the magic of about a half million lights.
Bier, a longtime resident, says it's now "a destination," but it started as a neighborhood block party.
"The block party became a public event," he says.
Bier's house is one of 48 decorated for the season. He has a light-up penguin display, along with inflatables depicting figures from Disney's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" holiday film.
"This is a seven-watt bulb," he says. "This is basically what you would see in the old days."
He keeps it classic, just like his neighbor, Dennis Will, who's lived on the block for 30 years.
Will says it just "feels normal" to bring the joy and fun of Christmas to the street.
"That's what we do," he says.
"I look forward to this every single year," says Scott Ackerman, a 16-year resident of the block. "It's just the sense of community."
"You do your portion, you know?" says Bier.
A community decorating crew helps older neighbors make it merry and bright.
"They put it up and we plugged it in," says Bier.
"We all sort of come out here and do this together," says Ackerman. "It's really an amazing thing from young to old."
Mike Dellipriscoli and his wife, Sue, are new to the block.
"We're originally from Philadelphia," says Dellipriscoli. "We knew what we were getting into, and we love it."
There are a variety of themes, from the Eagles to Whoville.
Dellipriscoli decorated his home with the "Peanuts" gang from the holiday favorite, "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
"It brings back good memories of my childhood," he says. "I was nine years old when I first watched this when it came out in 1965."
He says seeing little kids love it too, "makes me smile."
"There is a lot of work in this," says Bier.
And there's a lot of heart.
Bier says seeing a child's face light up is "the best thing in the world."
"The lights are just indicative of the love that all of these neighbors have for each other, and for the city," says Dellipriscoli. "That's the miracle of 13th Street."
The Miracle on South 13th Street Holiday Light Display:
Address:
-1600 Block of South 13th Street
-Philadelphia, PA 19148
