For nine years, the greater community of Woodland has flocked to Michann and Ken Bond’s property for their Christmas inflatables display. Only, this holiday season will be their last as they retire their decorations and share them in other ways.
Signs along their driveway read, “Sorry, the Elves are retiring after the holidays. We hope you've enjoyed our gift to you and our community. Merry Christmas!”
With 80 inflatables, extension cords galore and even spotlights, the Bonds will keep some of their inflatables while sharing the rest with other community members.
Michann Bond explained that if someone shows their driver's license to prove they live in Woodland, they can have their pick at an available inflatable after Dec. 25.
“That way they stay in the community and keep giving back to the community,” she said.
Over the years, Michann Bond has enjoyed the special memories and smiles of those who visited their display, which she hopes will continue throughout Woodland in the years to come.
“On the weekends, a couple hundred cars go through a night, and we dress up in elf costumes and hand out candy,” she said. “It's just the kids, though. They come through here, and the pure joy, and then older people come through and that brings us tons of joy, too.”
Ken Bond shared a couple of special memories that they have built with community members who have visited the display.
From a mother whose child passed away visiting the display, to two elderly friends visiting for years, and when one passed away the other came to visit to enjoy the memory, the Bonds’ display has brought joy to many with holiday season hardships.
The reason for retiring from setting up their display is rather simple: It's a lot of work for the Bonds at their age, they said, and it is difficult bringing in multiple truck loads from storage units the day after Halloween to setting up the inflatables and 35,000 lights on the property, no matter the weather..
The last day to view the display all at one location will be Dec. 25. After Christmas day, the inflatables and other necessities will find new homes.
“We're going to take down the ones we want to keep, and then for people that have a driver's license in the city of Woodland, we're going to also give them the extension cords, the plug-ins, the spotlights,” Michann Bond said. “We're just hoping to keep it in town as much as possible.”
The Bonds’ inflatable Christmas display is open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. every day, weather depending, with special work from the elves on weekends.
They are located at 2181 Lewis River Road in Woodland.
