By China Cassidy Every year businesses and light poles along the main streets of Holbrook are covered in lights and garland as the tell-tale sign that Christmas is right around the corner. But, just one block west of Navajo Blvd. on West Florida Street, sits a house whose owners have dedicated more than 40 years to creating a Christmas wonderland that locals and people from across the world have stopped by to enjoy. Alfred and Kathy Sample have lived in Holbrook their whole lives and also raised their three children, Mike, Valerie and Kimberly in Holbrook. While they love the Christmas holiday and the togetherness that the season brings, decking out their entire property with lights and everything Christmas was not planned but has become a tradition to the Samples and everyone who has had the pleasure of viewing the beautiful setup. Kathy shared that about 40 years ago, a friend gifted the couple a part of a nativity set that they put in their front yard. After that, their collection began to grow as their family began gifting them even more Christmas décor. “They gave us the Joseph and Mary and the baby Jesus, so we put it outside, we didn’t have a manger or anything, we just put them up. Then my father-in-law gave us a little Santa Clause. My dad gave us a little small sled and I put teddy bears on it. From there we just kept adding on and adding on.” After that, Alfred began making Christmas wreathes for their fence made of bicycle tires and adding a few items he crafted himself, like the deer and the Santa sled, which are still on display in the center of their yard. Over the years, the Samples have collected an impressive amount of Christmas lights, figurines and many other items they use as part of the display. Unfortunately, as well known as the couple are for their extravagant display, they have also been a target of vandalism, which ultimately resulted in them losing some of their Christmas decorations. With the most recent incident happening last year where one set of their reindeer and roughly $1,200 in decorations were destroyed. Even so, the Samples were never discouraged and have continued putting in the work because they like the joy it brings to so many. From familiar locals who grew up looking forward to the Sample’s Christmas display each year, to strangers from across the globe, the couple have had many visitors head over to get a glimpse of their hard work. Kathy reminisced, “We’ve always had a lot of people stop. We’ve met people from France, Spain, Japan and California. You wouldn’t believe it. You should have seen the kids; they would come, and you could see them in the cars. Kids we used to babysit, now they bring their kids.” The Samples have been gifted with plaques from the Holbrook Chamber of Commerce dating as far back as 1984 and received recognition from the local radio stations on multiple occasions. But Kathy said that is just a bonus as they never intended to do it for the attention but love how it brings everyone together for the holidays. “We never did it for a prize, we just did it for our kids and their friends. Whoever wanted to come to my house for Christmas, would come.” Although Kathy said that some of her family has encouraged them to slow down a bit and maybe minimize the amount of decorations they put up as they are getting older, Kathy and Alfred have no intention of doing so unless there is no other option. Alfred chuckled “Every year, we say, this is it, this is the last year we’re going to do this, but when it comes around, we do it.” Kathy added with a laugh, “We enjoy doing this. Our daughter told us mom you shouldn’t do all of it, and we said as long as we can do it, we will do it.” The Samples begin their sometimes three-week-long process of putting up the decorations after the Thanksgiving holiday and the display can be seen during all of December until the New Year.
