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Getting a jump on holiday light show
Flat Iron Farm prepares to welcome community
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by REID SILVERMAN
Micky Moran straightens the bulbs on an animated tin soldier light display that marks the entrance to Flat Iron Farm in Great Mills as part of preparation for the farm's annual Christmas Light Festival, beginning Thanksgiving weekend.
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For more than two decades, families have come to Flat Iron Farm in Great Mills to enjoy a free festival of spectacular Christmas lights. "Elves" are already hard at work preparing for this year's big event, which starts on Thanksgiving Day and ends on New Year's Eve.
Joseph "Bubby" Knott, the owner of Flat Iron Farm, grew up in St. Mary's County, not too far from where the farm is located. He and his workers started setting up the Christmas displays in early October.
"We change the scenes every year, so there is a lot of work involved," Knott said. "Each year, there's a new theme and we keep adding more decorations. It's very eclectic — I just do whatever strikes me. But I want it to look different each year."
For weeks now workers have been busy painting scenery, hanging candy canes and bows, trimming Christmas trees and stringing together the more than half a million Christmas lights used in the decorations. The lights are synchronized to music and visitors to the farm can turn to 88.7 FM on their car radios to hear the music and watch the lights move.
Although he declined to say how much he spends each year on electricity for the lights, Knott said this year's display will be bigger and brighter than ever before.
"We are replacing all of the lights with LEDs, so it will be brighter and more energy efficient, which means I can plug in even more lights," he said. "I run every service right to the hilt."
According to HowStuffWorks.com, if half of all traditional Christmas bulbs in use in the United States were replaced with LEDs — light emitting diodes — energy bills could be reduced by $17 billion a year.
New this year at Flat Iron Farm will be a Candy Cane House, filled with penny candy, and completely decorated in red and white stripes. There will also be a petting zoo, with cattle, turkeys, horses, chickens and rabbits. There will also be pony rides, visits with Santa on Friday and Saturday nights and a chance to browse in the little stores that sell everything from inexpensive children's toys to Christmas decorations. Coffee, cider and hot chocolate will also be available for sale for a dollar each and children will be able to roast marshmallows.
Jerome Collins of Lexington Park said the Flat Iron Farm light display has been part of the Christmas celebration for him and his wife, Lisa, for the past eight or nine years. "And, for the past four years, since we have had children, it's become even more special to us seeing the kids' eyes light up," Collins said. "Last year, I think my 4-year-old liked the fire truck the best. What little boy doesn't like fire trucks?"
Knott said he likes watching the reaction of children as they walk around the farm. "We have a chimney set up out there with Santa's legs sticking out of the chimney. Sometimes kids laugh at it, but then some of them want us to hurry and get Santa out of it," Knott said. "I enjoy seeing their excitement."
Putting the farm on display for six weeks every year is a family event, according to Knott, starting with the young nephews who help direct cars and including Knott's sisters, who run the little shops.
"We get sometimes 1,500 cars in a weekend," he said. "People will make two or three loops around the driveway to see all the lights. It is to get people in the holiday spirit. We have little shops, but nobody expects to make any money just in four hours a night. They are just something more to see. I think every year should be an adventure for people who come here — if it is not an adventure, why would they come? I want it to be fun for everyone."
Collins said he and his family think it is a blessing to have someone like Knott and his family doing this production every year at their own expense. "We have lived in others areas where people charged for this kind of Christmas light show," he said. "We always take family members to the show when they are in town for the holidays. It's definitely a family-friendly event."
Knott said the idea for a Christmas spectacular started one year after a Christmas party for his employees. Knott owns the Trading Post, an excavating company in Great Mills.
"We had a party and everyone had to get baby sitters. And then, the next week, we had another party for the kids," Knott said. "So that's how it got started — I thought why not have one big party and invite everyone? I love Christmas and I love seeing the excitement when children see Santa and the ponies and all of the lights.
"And," he added, "this is my Christmas present, not just to people in Southern Maryland, but to everyone. I don't charge admission. I want it to be open to everyone, not just the ones who can afford it. I will shut it down before I start charging admission."
By Thanksgiving Day, the toy soldier will be in his place at the foot of Highway to Heaven Lane, ready to direct visitors up and around the half-mile driveway. Parking at the top of the hill is free so visitors can leave their cars to tour the barns and exhibits.
And, early on New Year's Day morning, Knott will walk around his farm, making sure all the lights are off and everything is locked up tight.
It will then be the time for him to think of new ideas for next year's Christmas light festival.
If you go
The holiday lights and displays at Flat Iron Farm are open to the public from Thanksgiving Day through New Year's Eve from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and on Saturdays from noon until 9 p.m. Admission is free, although there is a small charge for pony rides. Cocoa, cider and cookies are available for purchase. Flat Iron Farm is located on Flat Iron Road in Great Mills. Flat Iron Road intersects Route 5 at Indian Bridge Road.
