East Bradenton homes shine bright during holiday season

Families are ready to deck the halls — and the yard, garage and roof — with holiday light displays.


Rudolph and Clarice join misfit toys in Riverwalk's Tim Cunningham's Christmas lights display. Cunningham has been buying the misfit toys as he has found them since he and his family moved to Florida in 2007.
Rudolph and Clarice join misfit toys in Riverwalk's Tim Cunningham's Christmas lights display. Cunningham has been buying the misfit toys as he has found them since he and his family moved to Florida in 2007.
Photo by Liz Ramos
  • East County
  • Neighbors
  • Share

Standing in front of Tim Cunningham's home in Riverwalk is like being transported to the Island of Misfit Toys. 

Rudolph, Clarice, King Moonracer, Santa, Yukon Cornelius and others from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys" light up Cunningham's front yard each year. 

The idea expanded from the first Christmas decoration Cunningham and his wife, Stacie Cunningham, bought when they moved to Florida in 2007. 

It's an animated plush scene featuring Rudolph, Hermey and Yukon Cornelius. 

The front lawn of Riverwalk's Tim Cunningham is filled with characters from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and The Island of Misfit Toys."
Photo by Liz Ramos

Cunningham found a light-up Rudolph first, and over the years, he's added to his collection. 

"There's always something a little different, and that's what I think people appreciate," he said. "It's not just re-displaying the exact same thing each year. In July, I start writing down notes of what I'm going to change that year."

Cunningham said his lights display is a "labor of love." 

It takes him at least three full days to put up more than 25 main light-up pieces, a large arch going over the driveway, holiday lightbulbs strung from the house to the big tree in front of the home and lights along his gutters. 

"I'll see how many people ride by and stop and the kids will get out and look around," Cunningham said. "That's what it's all about. It's about the neighbors and people enjoying it."

There are multiple stories to be found in Mike Wilder’s display at 9220 65th Ave. E. 

One is the story of "A Charlie Brown Christmas," told through wooden cutouts which Wilder made, drew and painted himself. 

Mike Wilder's Braden Woods home at 9220 65th Ave. E.
Photo by Ian Swaby

His property includes icons such as Snoopy’s dog house and Lucy’s psychiatrist booth, while topping it all off is a projection screen showing the television special on a loop. 

Adjoining those materials are a small nativity scene with the words “Hope and Joy” displayed in large letters and a billboard featuring a passage from Luke 2:14, read by the character Linus in the special.

He said the display also reflects his family history.

The “Hope and Joy” cutouts were made by his father, Callfrey Wilder, while an old-fashioned, incandescent strand of Christmas lights, which a group of wooden reindeer appear to be tearing from the roof, comes from his father-in-law Clarence Scott.

One Christmas tree in the yard was donated by his daughter’s mother and father-in-law, and another a coworker wanted to leave behind after her husband died. A wooden snowflake was used in the winter dances at Lakewood Ranch High School, where Wilder was formerly assistant principal.

Wilder said the purpose of the display is to “honor Christ and to honor the neighborhood.”

"I do it because of the love that I have for the community, and I want them to hopefully be inspired every day when they drive by and they see ‘hope’ and ‘joy,'” he said. "Hopefully that puts a smile on their face.”

Its history is still unfolding.

In a few months,  Wilder said, the decor will be passed on to his son, David Wilder, when he moves from Brandon to Bradenton with his family to take over the home. 

Wilder and his wife, Mary, will enjoy a new home in the RV David Wilder’s family currently lives in, traveling in the winter of 2023 to Mackinac Island, Michigan, and then along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail the next year. 

He said David Wilder might choose to go with a different idea for the display — perhaps "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" or another Christmas-themed property. 


What to check out some of the area's top light displays? Check out these addresses in East County:


Summerfield
Summerfield home at 6413 Fox Grape Lane
Photo by Liz Ramos
Summerfield home at 6443 Golden Leaf Court.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Summerfield home at 12101 Winding Woods Way
Photo by Liz Ramos
Summerfield home at 12226 Clubhouse Drive
Photo by Liz Ramos



Riverwalk
Riverwalk home at 7155 Spikerush Court.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Riverwalk home at 7147 Spikerush Court.
Photo by Liz Ramos


Mill Creek
Mill Creek home at 1807 145th St. E.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Mill Creek home at 2119 147th Court E.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Mill Creek home at 1815 145th St. E.
Photo by Liz Ramos


Country Creek
Country Creek home at 211 141 Court NE.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Country Creek home at 317 147th St. E.
Photo by Liz Ramos


Braden Woods
Braden Woods home at 6326 99th St. E.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Braden Woods home at 6613 99th St. E.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Braden Woods home at 9220 65th St. E.
Photo by Ian Swaby


Palm Aire
8223 Timber Lake Lane in Palm Aire.
Photo by Ryan Kohn
8034 Timber Lake Lane in Palm Aire.
Photo by Ryan Kohn


University Place
University Place home at 7724 Heyward Circle.
Photo by Ian Swaby
University Place home at 8206 Tabbystone Place.
Photo by Ian Swaby


River Club
River Club home at 9983 Cherry Hills Ave.
Photo by Ian Swaby
River Club home at 9947 Cherry Hills Ave.
Photo by Ian Swaby
River Club home at 9931 Cherry Hills Ave.
Photo by Ian Swaby

 

Latest News

Sponsored Content