West Seattle holidays: Menashe Family home to light up Thursday

| Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

In the back yard of the Menashe Family home on Beach Drive SW, the familiar Christmas characters were ready this afternoon to march (or be marched) into their places out front. A rain-free day meant prime time for serious work on West Seattle’s most famous Christmas lights-and-more display:

Family and friends worked on decking the house, with ladders and the customary cherry-picker:

It’s the most festive work zone in West Seattle:

… with just about every Christmas character imaginable:

There’s a new feature this year – this big star:

Josh Menashe tells WSB that if all goes as planned, they will officially turn on the lights at 5 pm this Thursday (December 1st). There’s no cross-street near where they are, so this map is the best way to find them. P.S. The cable TV show that debuted last year featuring the Menashe Family display, “Invasion of the Christmas Lights 2,” will be shown again on TLC this season – it’s currently scheduled for this Saturday, December 3rd.

happy November 28, 2011 (9:36 pm)

Amazing!
I’ve always wondered: where do they (and others who have large decorations) keep all the displays during the rest of the year? I can just barely store our little tree’s decorations and our one strand of house lights (our house is tiny) in the off season– we have no basement or garage for stashing!

Alki Resident November 28, 2011 (9:37 pm)

We look forward to this every year,it’s become tradition for us to drive by and see it and show it off to newcombers we know who have’nt seen their display.Thank you Menashes’.

MaryCooks November 28, 2011 (10:03 pm)

Thanks, Menashes, for the great display! My kids and I love it.

JN November 28, 2011 (10:17 pm)

I run by here every day, and it’s really fun to see it all lit up! Definitely one of my Christmas favorites.

Roller derby mom November 28, 2011 (10:30 pm)

I drove by today and saw the prep work. I can’t wait to take the kids to see it. I am a bit jealous that my house won’t even be a quarter as festive!!!

Lola P November 29, 2011 (1:32 am)

Forgive my grinchiness here, but while this is certainly the most gaudy display, I think it probably takes a major second place to the folks on Charlestown for being “most famous.” I take friends by just so they can reset their definition of “over the top.” To each their own.

WSB November 29, 2011 (7:02 am)

Lola – my admittedly subjective measure of fame comes primarily from the fact that this is “only” the third year for the fabulous Helmstetler Family Spectacular, while the Menashes have been lighting up their house much longer, AND have been featured on national TV. While you have to invest some time to hang out at the former and watch at least a song or two to get the full effect, you can get the gist of the Menashe lights’ brilliance in a slow one-minute driveby. Different philosophies in the school of the art of Christmas lights! – TR

WS Born & Bred November 29, 2011 (6:16 am)

Looking forward to taking a the niece and nephews on a Holiday drive this year. Thank you Menashe’s for your gawdy display! The more over the top, the more priceless the looks on the little ones faces when they catch that first glimpse!

Santa November 29, 2011 (7:05 am)

I don’t think you can compare the two displays (Menashes’ vs Charlestown)…it’s apples and oranges, and both are great (or gaudy) in their own ways. Being the creator of the one on Charlestown, I still love to go see what the Menashes’ do every year…it reminds me of my childhood of visiting my Grandmother on 35th over the holidays and then going by the Gais’ House on 37th Ave SW.

THANK YOU MENASCHE FAMILY!!

metrognome November 29, 2011 (7:58 am)

people need to be very careful driving through there, esp at night. I’ve seen people do some remarkably stupid things in an effort to see baby Jesus — things that almost got them a meeting up close and in person, with an angelic choir to boot. If you don’t need to drive this route, I would recommend an alternate; even if you have to drive further, you’ll probably get there sooner … and safely.

KD November 29, 2011 (9:10 am)

Lola P, don’t do ‘comparisons’ or mock any display.., just be grateful for what you view & all the effort,time, & expense folks go through to bring joy to all.(not to mention the electric bill next month!) To the Menasches,Helmstellars (sp?) and to all who put up a little tinsel only.., YOU are appreciated, & I am GRATEFUL for your gifts.

D November 29, 2011 (11:01 am)

Thank you Menashe Family. Your display will be one of my young daughter’s happy childhood memories!

Debi November 29, 2011 (12:57 pm)

I love to see this display….don’t know how anyone could think they have seen it by doing a drive by…this one is a must get out of the car and walk up to so you can see all the wonderful Christmas magic…my little sister and brother in law live in the house that your all talking about on Charlestown, “Helmstetler’s”…it’s an amazing show as well the two are so different I make sure to tell everyone I talk to, to make plans to see both!!! I’ll be bringing my Grandkids by for sure as I have in the past and my son before that!!! I was raised in West Seattle and loved seeing the Gais display….I hope a bunch more people will join these two wonderful display’s, the more the Merrier!!! West Seattle sure has been blessed with the Christmas spirit!!

LAP November 29, 2011 (6:47 pm)

A big Thank You to all of the families who take the time to decorate their houses and yards for everyone to enjoy. The bus ride home up the hill to 35th gets better and better every day as lights go up! I love that the spirit of the Gai’s lives throughout West Seattle!

Marcus M November 29, 2011 (7:12 pm)

If you want to see how it’s done by the masters, just pop down to Mexico for day of the dead

PamEvelyn November 30, 2011 (2:41 pm)

Love this time of year! So appreciate folks who put up lights & displays for all to enjoy. Isn’t that what the season is about? Caring & Sharing…

cher stefano December 1, 2011 (5:46 pm)

I personally want to say a HUGE thankyou to the Menache family. My son and grandson have grown up having that wonderful annual experience and it is all part of a wonderful Holiday memory in their growing up years right up to now. I find a drive around Beach Drive this time of year in the evening very theraputic. The lights and the music are very calming and we look forward to it every year. I know the economy is tanked and we have other hardships in this life so it is totally cool and ok with me that they put this display up for all of us to enjoy. It helps us get our minds off all the sadness in the world for a minute and then we go back to work trying to make it all better.

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