The holiday season is built on tradition. For generations, families have packed into their cars, sipped hot chocolate, and driven through Lights in the Parkway in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It’s more than a light show. It’s a beloved community event that raises money for local nonprofits while creating memories that span generations.
So, when vandals struck in December 2025, the damage went far beyond broken displays.
Officials estimated more than $100,000 in losses, with several iconic displays destroyed beyond repair, including Old Man Winter, Penguin with the Top Hat, and Fishing Penguins. Hundreds of bulbs were crushed, infrastructure was damaged, and there were real concerns about whether the remainder of the season could continue.
Stepping In When It Mattered Most
When Holiday Outdoor Decor learned what had happened, our team immediately contacted the City of Allentown and traveled to the site.
Within hours, we loaned 22 commercial holiday displays to replace those that had been destroyed, allowing city crews to restore the route and prepare for reopening.
The timing couldn’t have been more important.
The city’s annual Move It Monday celebration, featuring a Hanukkah Night in partnership with the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley, was able to proceed as planned. Just one day later, the full drive-through experience reopened to vehicle traffic, ensuring families could continue celebrating the holiday season together despite the devastating setback
More Than Lights
For our Vice President of East Coast Sales, Brian Arnold, helping was never a business decision.
“I’ve always brought my family here, my children and now my grandchild. We enjoy seeing the lights. It’s supposed to be a happy time of year, and this unforeseen thing put a damper on things. We knew we had to do something to make it better.”
After the displays were installed and families returned, Arnold reflected on what the effort meant.
“It makes you feel great you’re helping the community. You are providing a lot of joy for the kids driving by.”
Those words capture exactly why we do what we do.
Holiday Magic Belongs to Everyone
Commercial holiday décor isn’t simply about decorating streets or parks.
It’s about protecting traditions.
It’s about giving nonprofits an opportunity to raise funds.
It’s about supporting local economies as visitors dine, shop, and spend time together.
Most importantly, it’s about ensuring that when families return to the places they love each December, the lights are still shining.
We’re honored that Holiday Outdoor Decor could play a small role in helping preserve one of Pennsylvania’s favorite holiday traditions.
Because when communities need holiday magic most, that’s when it matters most to show up.
