News : Christmas lights: Sanders, Koopmans decorating again this year

The Sanders family will decorate their farm again this year, on Thanksgiving Day.

The Koopmans continue the lighting tradition in honor of Heidi's parents.

Despite storm damage, Dean and Heidi Koopman have set up part of their display this year.

A sign explains that the Koopman display is incomplete this year because of July storm damage.

A visitors' favorite: The Santa who comes up from the chimney.

The Nativity Scene at the Koopman farm.

Trees damaged by the July 11 storm are visible behind the displays at Koopman's.

The weather forecast is promising for those who want to spend Thanksgiving decorating for Christmas, says Bonnie Sanders.

"Sixty degrees! We can get a lot done," said Bonnie on Wednesday, as she discussed the Sanders family Thanksgiving tradition (aided by friends) of setting up the large holiday light display at their farm on 63rd Street south of Vinton.

"We won't have it all done by Thursday night," said Bonnie. "But we will have a lot of it up."

The weather also had a negative impact on area Christmas displays.

Dean and Heidi Koopman will continue the tradition started by Heidi's father, Larry Kersten, nearly 50 years ago, despite the damage from the July 11 storm.

"We will definitely put something up," Heidi said a few daysafter the storm. And they did.

Many of the trees used by the Koopmans for their display of tens of thousands of lights and dozens of handmade displays were destroyed or damaged by the storm.

The couple had created a new display each year, just as Heidi's father, Larry, had done for nearly 30 years before his death. But this year, the couple had to spend their time cleaning up storm damage on their farm, trimming and removing damaged or destroyed trees. Approximately half of their display has been set up for this year, along with a sign explaining that next year, they plan to set up the full display.