Once a year, Diamond Point residents come together to deck the halls, or rather, deck the road for their Holiday Lane.
On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Marty “Tall Elf” Hoffman coordinates volunteers inside Diamond Point Fire Station 35 to team up and take bins of ornaments, large candy canes and signs to place along the approximate four miles of Diamond Point Road.
Some volunteers bring goodies and good cheer to share with neighbors who hit the road with smiles and totes in tow.
“It’s a true community effort,” Hoffman said, who has led decorating for 14 years since taking over for Beverly and Wallace Teal.
“We’ve done it the same every year.”
Decorations are sorted in bins and boxes, and divided amongst neighbors by numbered sections to place on both sides of the road.
About 40 volunteers donate their time in some capacity and their output has grown.
New to their decorations in recent years are 15 banners made by George Ehrlich and Tony Gilman, that include festive words and fun phrases, such as “Joy,” “Hope,” “Cheer,” and “Oh Deer.”
Each sign features light timers that switch on at night, with reflective tape to help illuminate each piece.
Ehrlich said he and his wife Sheri have lived in Diamond Point for about three-and-a-half years, and she grew up visiting her grandma in the area her whole life.
They’ve been involved in the decorating effort since moving, and Ehrlich finds there’s a strong sense of community in Diamond Point.
“It’s fun to do, and it seems to bring a lot of joy to a lot of people,” Ehrlich said.
Their efforts may have inspired other residents too.
“There’s a lot of lights on houses,” Ehrlich said. “Everyone gets lights and it’s more and more every year.”
Gilman has lived in Diamond Point for five years with his wife Sue and they like storing Santa’s sleigh and the large nutcrackers that go with the “Holiday Lane” sign in their garage.
“It fits in just perfectly,” Gilman said.
“Plus it’s bragging rights to the grandkids.”
During his preparation meeting in the fire station, Hoffman gave pointers, answered questions and clarified one concern.
Why decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving?
“For Thanksgiving, a lot of people coming here are not here for Christmas,” Hoffman said.
“We’ve also put up (decorations) after Thanksgiving and we had to put them up in the snow.”
Those who placed decorations will also be tasked to put them away in January, he said.
A few years ago, residents reported theft of hand-made lollipop decorations, and over the event’s span a few snowflakes, bells and candy canes have been stolen. However, organizers said most items have trackers now.
In a previous interview, the Teals said they started Holiday Lane after seeing a similar area “in the middle of nowhere” fully decorated for Christmas in New Mexico.
They wanted to instill that same sense of surprise and awe to their community, they said.
Matt and Maria Freed moved to Diamond Point two years ago and while putting candy canes in a tree, said they like that the area is festive.
“I love going down the lane,” Maria said. “This is just a neat neighborhood.”
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Couple Matt and Maria Freed work together to string candy canes from a tree by Sunshine Acres in Diamond Point. The couple said they enjoy how festive neighbors are during Christmas. “I love going down the lane,” Maria said. “This is just a neat neighborhood.
Marty “Tall Elf” Hoffman talks to a full house of volunteers inside Diamond Point Fire Station on Nov. 23. About 40 neighbors worked together to decorate the approximate four miles of Diamond Point Road for the holidays with ornaments, nutcrackers and more.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Tony Gilman stands by one of the 15 signs he made with George Ehrlich. The signs can be seen along Diamond Point Road and feature lights and reflective tape so they can be seen at night.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Nicknamed “The Diamond Boys,” Randy Long, Michael Beard and Lavon Morris decorate a portion of Diamond Point Road on Nov. 23 for the area’s Holiday Lane. “It’s a great neighborhood. It really is,” Beard said.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Holiday Lane stretches most of Diamond Point Road and features ornaments, homemade signs and more through the holidays.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Jill Hoffman and Teresa Cody work together to decorate one of the many areas along Diamond Point Road. The friends have helped with the effort for years, Cody said. “We really enjoy it,” she said.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Totes and boxes of decorations await volunteers to pick up and disperse along Diamond Point Road for the area’s Holiday Lane.
