Overly’s Country Christmas, a timeless holiday tradition, opens Thursday, Nov. 19

A talking Christmas tree, a donkey named Edgar and more Christmas lights than Clark Griswold’s house are just some of the things you’ll see at the famous Overly’s Country Christmas, a classic holiday destination since 1956. Overly’s is a family tradition deeply rooted in Westmoreland County. This year’s event will have a retro feel of the old drive through display as it was in the early days, complete with traditional features, new displays and some surprises along the way.

“This year’s event is a throwback to the early times when the light display was at Harry Overly’s home. Entire families piled into their station wagons to drive past and marvel at the seasonal display unlike any other in our area,” Joyce Rettura, treasurer and board member of Overly’s, said. “We wanted to offer our community a Covid-safe way to keep that memory making tradition alive.”

Covid was not the only challenge Overly’s faced preparing for the holiday season. Sadly, Stephanie Tomasic, Executive Director of Overly’s Country Christmas for 16 years, passed away in July. Through Tomasic’s tireless leadership, Overly’s increased fundraising and sponsorships, expanded displays and delivered lifetime memories and experiences for guests to gather and enjoy each year. She brought passion, integrity, reliability and unwavering commitment and energy to her projects. Stephanie’s ability to form alliances with various groups, mentor young people and organize teams of volunteers on a non-profit budget made her a force to be reckoned with when it came to community spirit.

Originally, the Overly’s crew thought the obstacles created by a combination of Tomasic’s passing and the pandemic meant Overly’s might not be able to open at all this year. But, a core group of volunteers approached Rettura in September and said ‘This event is bigger than Harry Overly or Stephanie Tomasic. This is about our countless volunteers, our community and the high risk families of terminally ill children who we serve. This is about more than just Christmas lights. We have to figure out a way to open and give us all something to look forward to.’”

With renewed focus, Overly’s and their group of volunteers banded together. They designed brand new displays, a longer driving route, recreated some nostalgic exhibits from the past and assembled a cast of surprise visitors to stroll through Christmas Village greeting visitors from a safe distance. With every stake they pounded and light they set, the Overly’s team saw Stephanie’s twinkling blue eyes, heard her quirky sense of humor and felt her presence as she worked tirelessly alongside them in spirit.

But what can you expect this year if you’ve never been to Overly’s? Besides the Christmas light displays and the life size nativity with live animals, Overly’s will offer items for purchase in a drive-through fashion. Visitors can purchase their famous kettle corn, delicious fudge and snacks as well as novelty gift items. Children will want to remember to bring their Christmas lists or letters to Santa and drop them in the mailbox. And parents won’t want to forget their camera.

It takes a village to make this happen, and the team at Overly’s Country Christmas had more than enough cheer and spirit to overcome all the challenges they faced this year.

“On behalf of our board of directors, I am very grateful to and so very proud of our dedicated team. We deeply miss our leader and friend, Stephanie. She and Harry Overly would be honored to have their legacy tended to by this amazing and dedicated group of individuals. An especially personal aspect this year is our heartfelt desire to honor Stephanie, a woman who accomplished so much on behalf of the event and the community she loved. If we can provide our neighbors with something to look forward to amidst all of 2020’s turmoil and create even a fraction of the memories Stephanie could then we will make her proud, ” Rettura said.

To donate, memorial contributions can be made to Overly’s Country Christmas, 116 Blue Ribbon Lane, Greensburg, PA 15601. Please note Stephanie Tomasic memorial contribution in memo.

The tradition continues! Join the fun beginning Thursday, November 19. Overly’s is located at 116 Blue Ribbon Lane, Greensburg at the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds. Find directions. Gates are open from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays until Dec 20, and daily then Dec. 21-Dec 30; Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For additional details, visit Overlys.com or find them on Facebook.