In neighborhoods across Northeast Ohio, homes are glowing with twinkling lights, oversized decorations and holiday cheer. But these dazzling displays aren’t always just for show. For many local families, lighting up the season is also a way to give back to those in need.

From Brunswick to Medina, these festive homes offer more than just a photo opportunity. They inspire generosity, bringing communities together to support charities that make a real difference. Here’s a look at some of the standout displays and the stories behind them.

Wadsworth Griswold House – Wadsworth

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For Greg Osterland, 44, and his wife, turning his home on Duane Lane in Wadsworth into a scene from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” was a way to honor a family tradition. Inspired by the movie his family watched every Christmas Eve, Osterland’s display features 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights, an RV like the one seen in the movie and even mannequins dressed as Cousin Eddie and Clark Griswold.

“It (The Griswold house from the movie) didn’t really exist, but I was able to create something that made it exist and put something that brings smiles to kids’ faces,” Osterland said. “That’s what’s kept me coming back.”

Through his Hollywood-inspired display, Osterland raises funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Great Strides event, which works to support people with cystic fibrosis (CF), a progressive genetic disease that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs, according to the organization’s website.

Diagnosed with CF himself at age six, Osterland said not many were aware of what it’s like to live with the condition, but the prognosis for those living with the disease has drastically improved over time due to advancements in research and technology.

“When I was diagnosed, the average lifespan was 30. Now, because of all the advancements we’ve had, that number has bumped up well into the 60s and even the 70s,” Osterland said. “I’m well past 30 years old and I’ve never felt better.”

His journey with CF has given Osterland a positive outlook that he hopes to give to others during the holidays through his display and by collecting donations for the Great Strides event.

Over 11 years of collecting donations, the house has raised about $50,000 for the organization, Osterland said.

Where: 173 Duane Lane, Wadsworth

Highlights: Plenty custom-made visual references to “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” including the home’s holiday Italian lights. Interactive games for kids.

When to visit: Lights are on every day until 11 p.m., with extra time during the week of Christmas. The display typically comes down the first week of January.

How to Help: You’ll find a lock box lit up in the front yard with QR Code for donations or you can visit their donation link here. This year’s goal is $12,000.

A Licursi Creations Christmas Story – Medina

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For the past six years, Justin Licursi, 37, and his wife have transformed their cul-de-sac into a winter wonderland with holiday lights, attracting lines of visitors eager to enjoy the display.

Licursi says he was inspired to support holiday cheer this way after visiting the residential lighting displays in Crown Point Parkway (also on this list) during his teenage years.

“I remember going there when I was a teenager with friends. It was like ‘Oh, this is magical, this is great,’ and I just always remembered that,” he said. “It was always just a positive feeling around Christmas time.”

When people began donating, the Licursis had to figure out what to do with the money, so they decided to find a family in need who they could support. In 2023, they raised about $10,000 for a local family with a husband who had pancreatic cancer, Licursi said.

This year, donations will support the Kranek family, who have a daughter diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer at just 22 months old.

Where: 6321 Shadow Creek Drive, Medina

Highlights: Large “Merry Christmas” sign. 18 community-donated trees lit up. Yearly Grinch photo opportunity.

When: Lights are up 5-11 p.m. every night.

How to help: Visit the display’s Facebook page for more options to support this year’s family.

Crown Point Parkway Festival of Lights – Strongsville

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What began as a neighborhood holiday lighting contest in 1988 has grown into a dazzling tradition at Crown Point Parkway in Strongsville, attracting thousands of visitors each season.

Dan Hoag, 68, and his wife, alongside their neighbors, have built a collaborative display featuring coordinated light arches, themed areas like Frostyville and Candyland and more intricate decorations.

The project started small, with Dan determined to win a neighborhood lighting contest in 1988. By 1994, nearly every house on the street participated, and Crown Point Parkway gained local fame after appearing on multiple new channels and TV shows, including ABC’s “Great Christmas Light Fight” in 2015.

Hoag, a home improvement contractor, dedicates months to setting up.

“It’s a six-to-nine-month project,” Hoag said, explaining the effort that goes into ensuring every light and decoration is perfectly aligned. “Seeing the joy it brings makes it worth the effort,” he said. “Walking away is hard when you see how much good this does.”

Donations began when visitors insisted on giving back, and the neighborhood eventually started donating to organizations and families in need. The tradition has since raised nearly $250,000 for charitable causes over the years, Hoag said.

This year, donations will support the Wish Foundation of Northeast Ohio and the Berea Animal Shelter.

Where: 14335 Crown Point Parkway, Strongsville

Highlights: Santa visits on the weekend. Meticulously placed and cared for lights. Themed display areas. Holiday light arches between homes. Widespread neighborhood participation.

When to visit: Lights on around 5:30-10 p.m., Monday– Thursday, 5:30–11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 6–9 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

How to help: Collection box on site. Or, support the A Special Wish Northeast Ohio Chapter and Bera Animal Rescue online.

Naelitz Holiday Displays – Brunswick

Nestled on Crestway Oval in Brunswick, the Naelitz family’s display boasts plenty of inflatables, animatronic holiday figures, and over 50,000 lights, according to Scott Naelitz, 54.

He grew up in a household that went all out for the holidays in the Old Brooklyn area of Cleveland. With his wife, he decided to carry on the tradition when starting his own family in Brunswick, he said.

When the Naelitzs noticed the amount of attention the display started to attract, they knew they had to make the most of it. Both longtime volunteers at the Brunswick Food Pantry, the couple began to collect nonperishable food items and monetary donations from visitors for the pantry.

“We just decided if we ever had the opportunity to be able to do something to help… as opposed to just being out there passing food, we’d take the opportunity to help them,” Naelitz said.

Where: 369 Crestway Oval, Brunswick

Highlights: Large “Joy” sign shining bright on the roof, blow molds.

When to visit: Their lights shine nightly from 5:30 to 11 p.m. through January 1.

How to help: In the yard is a donation box accepting non-perishable donations for the Brunswick Food Pantry.

Fairview Park Holiday Lights – Seabury Avenue

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Fairview Park’s Seabury Avenue has become a well-known destination for holiday cheer and dazzling lights, thanks to Bill and Diane McVicker, who started their community’s extravagant neighborhood lighting tradition in 2012.

To get to the point where the neighborhood’s lighting festival is today, Bill, who inherited the habit of taking on holiday projects from his grandfather, worked that habit into his home’s lighting display and encouraged neighbors to do the same.

Now, through the neighborhood’s holiday display and fun attractions like the McVickers’ “Elf Tent” which offers hot chocolate, “magical” reindeer food, and more, they collect donations for three organizations: the Fairview Park Hunger Center, Fairview Park Meals on Wheels and the Fairview Park Senior Center.

“Kids will have a handful of coins for the drop box. It’s nice to see kids learning to give back at an early age,” Bill McVicker said.

The McVicker said it feels good to see families returning year after year and hearing stories about how their display has become part of other families’ traditions.

Since 2018, the family has raised over $23,000 for the three charities, according to the McVickers. They expect donations to be down this year due to increased enforcement of rules by the city of Fairview Park that aim to reduce unruly visitors and traffic issues.

Where: 21869 Seabury Ave., Fairview Park

Highlights: Elf tent with treats, merry-go-round for kids. Widespread neighborhood participation.

When to visit: Lights are on all the time. This year, community festivities run from December 20 to 25, with the Elf Tent open nightly from 6 to 9 p.m.

How to help: Donations collected on site, particularly in the Elf tent. Or, visit the charitable organizations online: Fairview Park Hunger Center, Fairview Park Meals on Wheels and the Fairview Park Senior Center.

Petkovsek Family Christmas Lights – North Royalton

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On a corner lot in North Royalton, the Petkovsek family’s vibrant display has been a staple in the neighborhood since 2016. Thousands of lights illuminate the home, delighting visitors who often stop to snap photos or enjoy the festive atmosphere.

For Joe Petkovsek, 45, the tradition dates back to his childhood, helping his father decorate their family home every holiday season.

“As a kid, I remember having my eyes wide open helping my dad decorate the roof. I always enjoyed it.”

Now, he and his wife try to carry that tradition forward to the next generation. Their three kids — ages 10, 7, and 5 — are just as invested in helping build the display as he once was.

But for the Petkovseks, it’s not just about experiencing the fun themselves; it’s also about doing something good.

“We wanted to show the kids that the lights aren’t just for our joy, we’re doing something for the needy,” Petkovsek said.

Being an animal-loving household, the display collects donations for Stearns Homestead, an educational farm in Parma that takes care of various animals.

Where: 10020 Applewood Drive, North Royalton

Highlights: Lights everywhere, fun figures expanding the large property.

When to visit: Lights are on 5 p.m.–11 p.m. every night. Extended hours closer to Christmas. Open all night on Christmas Eve.

How to help: Collection box on the property. Or visit the farm’s website to support the cause.