Manalapan Family's Holiday Light Show Helps Two Good Causes

MANALAPAN, NJ — All is aglow at Lights on Glendale, where the Antanies family of Manalapan offers the community a chance to get in the holiday spirit - and give to good causes.

The lawn and garages at the house are laden with lights synchronized to music, holiday figures and various Christmas vignettes - a Nativity, Santa's Workshop and Disney themes.

Vintage 1950s animatronic figures are in action, too, and a North Pole sign can make you think, at least for a moment, that you've been transported.

"It's a lot of work - and stressful. But we do have fun!" Vanessa Antanies said, happily describing the show created by her husband Nick and herself. It has been on display since the day after Thanksgiving.

As for the donations, Antanies said there is a jar (a large one) for cash donations to St. Jude's Hospital. There is also a QR code visitors can scan to make a donation by credit card.

The show also supports a local charity for foster children, We Are Loved, and collects PJs and slipper socks and other warm, cozy item for the kids. There is a bin there to deposit those donations.

The house is at 13 Glendale Drive, off Taylors Mill Road. The shows are every night, weather permitting, from 5 to 10 p.m. You can check the Lights on Glendale Facebook page for cancellation for weather.

The show will go on to Jan. 7, so there are lots of opportunities to go. And Antanies said she encourages visitors to park and walk through the displays.

Look for visits from Santa, Mrs. Claus, Buddy the Elf - and even the Grinch - on the weekends. There is also a Santa Letter drop box and every letter submitted gets a return letter back from Santa. To complete the fantasy, there's snow from a snow machine at times.

And Antanies said while visitors are in Manalapan, they should visit Maple Leaf Farms on Route 9 for the farm's Christmas Wonderland.

The owners are family friends, she said, and the show there also helps a good cause, raising funds for a pet shelter, Antanies said.

Patch and T-Mobile are partnering to help you compile a list of lights around the Manalapan area that deserve a drive-by. Email patricia.mcdaniel@patch.com and let us know the address. Also please send a photo (that you took yourself) to appear in our holiday roundup!