HENRICO COUNTY, Va — For 27 years, Al Thompson has transformed his quiet Glen Allen street into a winter wonderland that draws visitors from around the world each Christmas. But this Christmas marks the final chapter of Christmas on Wendhurst, as the 79-year-old Navy veteran and his wife Esther say goodbye to a tradition that has touched thousands of lives.
What started in 1999 with one reindeer and a few lights has grown into an award-winning display featuring more than 200,000 lights, 2,534 handmade decorations, and interactive elements that invite visitors to solve riddles, crack puzzles, and share in the magic of the holidays.
“I got the bug, and before you know it, we’re solid in all three yards, and I call it 100 yards of lights,” Thompson said.
The display has attracted visitors from all 50 states and 135 countries, earning national recognition on CBS, NBC, and ABC.
In 2016, Christmas on Wendhurst won ABC’s “Great Christmas Light Fight,” taking home the $50,000 prize and trophy that still sits in the front window…