By Jennifer Champagne
Managing Editor
For Joe Ackerman of Alger County, Christmas lights are more than a seasonal display. They are the continuation of a family tradition that has been growing — literally and figuratively — for more than 16 years.
Ackerman, a two-time UPPCO Holiday Lighting Contest winner, is competing for a third straight year after taking first place in both of his previous entries. As of this week, his full-on light show sits in second place U.P.-wide with more than 1,100 votes, trailing only a Copper City home as voting continues through Christmas Eve at midnight.
The tradition began many decades ago with Ackerman’s father-in-law, Pepper VanLandschoot, who put up Christmas lights every year as a family ritual. When Ackerman married into the family, he began working side by side putting up Christmas lights at his in-laws’ home with Pepper.
About 16 years ago, after VanLandschoot passed the baton to Ackerman, the tradition shifted to his home at E9777 Gates Road and, like the Grinch’s heart that “grew three sizes,” has continued to grow each year.
“My dad was happy to not have to climb up his ladder anymore and pass this on to Joe,” said Ackerman’s wife, Paula. “There wasn’t a big moment. Joe just kept doing it, and then it kept growing.”
What started as a modest display has evolved into a large, animated holiday scene featuring classic Christmas characters, many of them synchronized to music. Some decorations date back generations, including pieces that belonged to Paula’s grandparents.
Others reflect VanLandschoot’s handiwork — including handmade wooden reindeer, one with a red nose for Rudolph, Paula’s favorite Christmas story. The reindeer retired a few years ago as the wood became brittle.
“Some of my parents’ and grandparents’ pieces are still part of it,” Paula said. “Joe’s added characters over the years and made it much bigger, but it’s still very much my dad’s tradition living on.”
The display is a year-round project. Ackerman spends the summer and fall repairing lights and preparing decorations in his official headquarters — a dedicated Christmas workshop on the property. He’s quick to point out that lights that work in the summer don’t always cooperate in winter. Despite the scale, Ackerman says there is no master plan. He simply goes where the Christmas spirit takes him.
“I don’t plan it out,” he said. “It just comes together.”
Installation doesn’t begin until after Thanksgiving, and weather is often unpredictable. High winds earlier last week knocked Santa Claus from his perch, sending Ackerman back up the ladder to make repairs. Luckily, his son Noah was home to help last weekend, which meant less ladder time for him.
“My body doesn’t love ladders the way it used to,” Ackerman said, noting that he’s approaching his 60s.
Family members pitch in when needed. In addition to Noah’s help on the ladder, son-in-law Michael Graves assisted with moving a large Abominable Snowman decoration — known as a “Bumble” — from Ackerman’s workshop to a custom-built platform.
Despite a December power bill that Ackerman admits is “not small,” he says the display is about community, not competition.
“I do it because our community loves it,” he said. “Seeing people slow down, stop, smile — that’s what makes it worth it. When the neighbor kids have a sleepover and all the kids are out sledding, it’s fun to see their faces when they see our lights at the top of the hill.”
The display has become a seasonal landmark. School buses often slow on their routes to give students a better look, and even the Altran bus stopped recently so riders could jump out and take it in. Visitors regularly swing by, and the family welcomes them.
Nearby holiday decorators have taken notice as well. Two other neighborhood homes — the Hills and the LaFlammes — decorate every year and this year joked that they should put arrows in their yards pointing toward the Ackerman house as the display continues to grow.
Paula, who insists she takes no responsibility for the decorating itself, admits she signed her husband up for his first lighting contest — and now serves as his personal marketing team.
“I rally the votes,” she said.
“Last year we broke 1,000, and this year we’re already past 1,100,” Ackerman said.
This year, the Ackermans are the only Munising-area home entered in the UPPCO contest. With voting open until midnight on Dec. 24, the family hopes Alger County residents will come together and push the display back into the top spot.
After more than 16 years of carrying on this VanLandschoot family tradition, Ackerman says a third win would be meaningful.
The contest includes a $500 grand prize gift card, a $300 runner-up prize and two $100 honorable mention awards.
For Ackerman, the incentive is equal parts fun and practical.
“I wouldn’t complain if one of those prizes helped cover a month’s power bill,” he said. “December adds up when you run this many lights.”
Voting is open once per day through Christmas Eve at contest.uppco.com/view-entries. Contest winners are contacted by Dec. 31.