CULLMAN – December has arrived and Christmas is just around the corner, yet the warm weather outside has left many of us feeling around for a cold drink rather than a few ornaments to hang upon our Christmas trees. Thank goodness there are folks like Mrs. Joyce Sparks. Joyce loves decorating for Christmas, both inside her home and out – and it shows!
From the moment you get anywhere near 126 County Road 1468, Cullman, AL 35058 you can see the glow of a gazillion beautiful Christmas lights coming from her yard. Then once you turn and approach her property, a sign will tell you to turn to a specific radio station. After you’ve fiddled with the radio dial and find the correct station, lovely Christmas music fills your vehicle as you continue your visit through the lighted whimsical yard.
“I have about an acre covered in lights, it’s amazing,” said Sparks warmly. “Oh, I don’t put them up myself, my yard man Nick Payne and his girlfriend does. It’s just unbelievable stuff that he has been able to do,” she giggled as she thought about her yard.
Nativity scenes, Christmas packages beautifully wrapped and stacked, Santa Clauses, reindeer and just about every imaginable scenario can be found just by looking through the continuous landscape. In the trees, penguins in hot air balloons look down at you, while Santa and Mrs. Claus swing away together on a swing. Santa can also be seen on a seesaw with three of his silly reindeer on the other end hanging on for their lives.
The place promises to bring out the child in everyone who passes by and takes a look. But what most folks don’t know is that Mrs. Sparks has the inside of her home decorated for Christmas too – and by decorated, I’m talking everything is clothed in nothing but Christmas!
Each room in the house, including the two bathrooms, has a theme. The dining room has all kinds of pink ornaments and various ribbons and candles. Exquisite, collectable plates and fine china are displayed around a pink centerpiece and a Christmas tree, decorated with pink balls and dangles, stands to the side.
There is a bedroom that is known as the Blue Room, and it has hints of blue scattered throughout. A Christmas tree covered in blue ornaments stands proudly in the corner and brings out the blue in the other parts of the room beautifully.
The kitchen has a whole counter set up as Candy Land and gingerbread men and women cover the rest of the area. There are singing dolls and snoring Santas if you look carefully. But the best part about Mrs. Sparks and her Christmas home is the fact that nothing is ever the same two years in a row.
“It takes a lot of patience to put this all out but it’s something I love,” she said. “I want people to come out and visit every year, so I have to keep things looking different,” she explained while munching on a Christmas cookie.
Inside Mrs. Sparks’ home is not open to the public, but everyone is encouraged to drive out and see her wonderful light display. Again, she is located at 126 County Road 1468, Cullman, AL 35058 and would love for everyone to come out and see it during the holiday season.
“It’s really something to see because Cullman doesn’t have anything like this,” she said with a smile and a wink. “It’s just one of those things I like to do and I plan to keep it up as long as I can.”
Originally published in the December 8, 2014 issue of CullmanSense print edition.
