The holidays are celebrated in many different ways, from baking goodies with the family or exchanging gifts with friends. And of course, there’s the decorations. The nights are brighter with dazzling lights adorned on every home as a signal to celebrate the festive season. But there’s one family that goes the distance on an interior transformation, and for a good cause as well.
Kathy Sputo and her family go all out every year with Christmas decorations at their 3 Main St. home, giving each room the holiday touch. But they don’t just do that for themselves. They also welcome members of the community to witness the house in motion.
“I used to decorate through the years a lot,” said Sputo. “And then one tree became two, two trees became three. In the beginning, people would ask if I was that lady with all that stuff in her house. I said they can come on in.”
The Sputos started inviting people back when they lived in Wantagh, where they were for more than 20 years, before moving to Farmingdale in July 2015. This house is smaller than their old one, but it didn’t stop them from continuing to decorate at great lengths. When people brought up the idea of inviting people into the house again, Sputo decided to go all in.
“I like to have this house done five to seven days before Thanksgiving,” said Sputo. “It gives us time to call people and let them know to come visit. If you were here during the process, it’s frightening. You can’t see anyone.”
But Sputo felt like she didn’t just want people to pile into their house. She asked those who visited to consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, something that she started to do a little bit when in Wantagh but wanted to make it a staple of her event.
“I called St. Jude to tell them that this isn’t me just collecting 60 to 80 bucks,” said Sputo. “I’m going to shoot far. And now, we are registered with them, which is why we leave out a certificate we got from them. They asked how we came up with it and I said we were very decorated. Someone said once that, in a good way, it looks like Christmas threw up in here.”
Calling it “Santa’s House,” families are welcome to tour the house. Kathy’s husband, Bob, plays Santa Claus as children who come in get to meet and talk to him. They are also encouraged to bring letters to him as well. Everyone else in the house plays his helpers as they welcome people, hand out goodies and collect donations. Hot cocoa and cookies are available for $1 each.
There are 10 trees throughout the house, as well as miniature villages, Christmas-themed figurines and plushies, more than 160 different salt and pepper shakers, as well as stockings, music boxes and much more. The first thing you see when entering the house is one of the main attractions: A singing reindeer they named Comet that sits in the corner.
The decorations have been collected over many years, from the different locations around the country where the Sputos have traveled.
“I started finding decorations back in 1978,” said Sputo. “Wherever we go, from Connecticut, Massachusetts to San Francisco, I look for the Christmas shop or a section that has Christmas things up. I went down to South Carolina for a wedding and I wasn’t leaving without something.”
One person Sputo always keeps in mind during this time of year is her father, who passed away when she was just 15. She has a few ornaments on one of the trees in his memory, one of which is a cement truck since her father drove one for his job.
“Somebody asked me where I got this from,” Sputo said. “I get it from him. My dad was a big baby at Christmas. He had six kids, he worked really hard, but we had great Christmases. Back then, there weren’t decorations like these. But if there was, he would’ve had them.”
Wednesday, Dec. 18, and Thursday, Dec. 19, are the last two days that the Sputos will holding the open house event. For more information on the house or to potentially schedule another time to visit, you can call 516-996-6508 or email squealman@yahoo.com.
“I love it,” said Sputo. “I really do. When I’m having a really bad day and I can’t keep decorating anymore, I just remember what it is for. And Farmingdale is great. When people come through here, you have to see the expressions on their faces.”
