We track 1 display in Merriam. Every one of them is free to visit.
Displays here switch on around sunset. In Merriam that means about 4:57 PM in early December and 4:57 PM by mid-month — the earliest sunsets of the year fall right in the middle of lights season. It is properly dark by about 5:27 PM, which is when the displays look their best. December nights in Merriam typically drop to around 23°F.
| Date | Sunset | Fully dark |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1 | 4:57 PM | 5:26 PM |
| Dec 15 | 4:57 PM | 5:27 PM |
| Dec 25 | 5:02 PM | 5:32 PM |
Residential displays have no facilities of their own — no parking, no toilets, nowhere to warm up — so it is worth knowing what is around. Within about three miles of the Merriam cluster, OpenStreetMap maps 0 public car parks and 7 public toilets. There is no shortage of cafés and takeaways for a hot drink on the way round.
Freeresidential15,000 lights at peakthree-time Merriam Festival of Lights winnerdisplay since 1989
Steve Pearson began expanding his display in 1989 and had reached 15,000 lights by 2002, winning the Merriam Festival of Lights contest at least three times. Though somewhat smaller in recent years, it remains a worthwhile stop on Johnson Drive.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
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