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Know before you go: Overly’s Country Christmas Holiday Lights

Head to the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds for this drive-thru display of holiday lights

by Rachel Cunningham | December 30, 2020

Wednesday, December 30 is the last day for Overly’s light display. Hours are 5:30 pm – 10 pm. Check out our guide to drive-thru lights for more light displays

Experiencing holiday lights is a little different this year. This includes one of Westmoreland County’s most beloved light displays – Overly’s Country Christmas at Westmoreland Fairgrounds.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year, what has traditionally been a hybrid of a drive-thru attraction and a holiday village has been converted to a drive-thru-only attraction.

Since this is the first time in nearly 30 years that the display has been a drive-thru, we’ve put together a guide to Overly’s Country Christmas to help navigate the new format.

Things to Know Before You Go: Overly’s Country Christmas

  • Admission to the light display is $20 per car and is cash only
  • Overly’s is open Thursday to Sunday from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m.
  • Food is available as it has been in the past, but the selection is limited and also cash only
  • Be sure to bring cash with you – there are no ATMs on site
  • Port-a-Johns are available at the beginning and end of the light display

What You Will See

As I mentioned before, this year’s display is entirely drive-thru. There is no point at which you can get out of your car so drive slowly and take your time. The display has been expanded from previous years and will take you approximately 10 to 15 minutes to drive through.

There are several different displays to look for as you drive through this year’s display.

  • Original light displays from founder Harry Overly
  • The nativity with Edgar the donkey
  • Giant metal sculptures created and fabricated by students at Westmoreland County Community College
  • Henny Hemlock, the joke-telling Christmas Tree
  • Santa in his workshop

What You Won’t See This Year

There are some perennial Country Christmas favorites that won’t be part of this year’s attraction or may look a little different.

  • The gift shop won’t be open this year, but a small number of souvenirs will be available for purchase.
  • The miniature train display in Hartford Station will not be set up.
  • The horse-drawn wagon rides won’t be offered.
  • The children’s playground and bonfire won’t be set up.
  • There is no parking.

How to Get to Overly’s Country Christmas

Overly’s Country Christmas is located at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds. From Route 30 you will take the Mount Pleasant exit and follow the signs.

How much will it cost and is there parking?

  • Entry is $20 per car
  • It is cash only, but there is no ATM on site, so plan ahead
  • Since Overly’s is entirely drive-thru this year, there is no on-site parking this year

Where to Get Hot Chocolate After Visiting the Lights?

If you are looking for a way to warm up after visiting the lights, downtown Greensburg has several cute coffee shops that are perfect for defrosting chilly fingers. My favorites are the Caffeinated Cat Café and the White Rabbit Café and Patisserie. Both are just a short drive from the fairgrounds and are close to Route 30.

Be sure to check out their hours, however, as they close at earlier in the evening.

History of Overly’s 

Overly’s has a long history with light displays – they have been doing it since 1956. It began when Harry Overly started decorating his Armburst home. Eventually, the Overlys started using the display to raise money for charity.

By 1991, the display at the Overly home had grown too large to be displayed at the home and other accommodations were made. In 1994 they found their permanent home at the fairgrounds – four years before Harry Overly’s death.

Now Overly’s Country Christmas continues Harry’s mission by raising money to support local charities.

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Rachel Cunningham

Rachel Cunningham

Rachel Cunningham is a Pittsburgh-area blogger who loves to write about anything historical, quirky, or abandoned.

She has written three local history books through Arcadia Publishing, with the most recent being Western Pennsylvania's Lost Amusement Parks.

You can view more of her work on her blog at Third Stop on the Right.

She's also a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

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