Every year, Jim and Susan look forward to making the season just a bit brighter with their dazzling Christmas display at 1312 Mansel Ave. in Loyalsock Township, each year, adding something new.

This year, a vintage sleigh makes its debut among the couple’s impressive array of decorations.

“It’s circa 1830, and he bought it for my birthday,” Susan said.

Jim had initially purchased a different sleigh from Michigan, but when it arrived, it was not in the condition they expected.

“It was a fake, wicker type sleigh, and I said, ‘that’s not gonna hold up,” she explained, thinking that was it.

“Weeks later, he called me to go out back, and he had found this new sleigh in Forty Fort,” Susan said.

“I couldn’t believe it. He brought it back in the back of his trailer, and he uncovered it for me, and it was gorgeous. It was exactly what I wanted,” she said.

“They used it at the fire department for and parades there for Santa Claus, okay, and that’s how we got it. It’s actually rare, and it pivots too,” Susan said.

“I always wanted a real sleigh, and that was a nice surprise for my birthday,” she said.

People stopping by to see the lights are welcomed to take photos in the sleigh, with the option to leave a donation, with all the money collected going to St.Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

“I’ve always given to St Jude and donated animals, and I thought this would be a great way to raise some money for them,” Susan said, stressing that the donation is strictly optional.

“It’s not just for that. It’s for the kids to enjoy and take pictures in, but if they want to leave a donation, 100% of it is going to St Jude,” she said.

Another new addition this year is a digital sign, counting down to the arrival of Old St. Nick.

Over the summer, the couple also installed a picture window in order to display their Christmas tree to passersby.

A returning favorite is the couple’s letters to Santa mailbox. Each letter deposited gets a special reply directly from Kris Kringle, himself.

“I had one that actually made me cry. It was a woman that was writing for a special needs person, and he wanted Santa to thank the people on Mansel Avenue for the beautiful display they put up,” Susan said.

“I would like anything musical, writing paper, and some gift cards. I love Joe’s pizza,” the letter read.

“Santa, on your round, could you leave a note or message to that house on Mansel Avenue Williamsport, tell them how we just love their decorating for us to enjoy,” it said.

“He likes to walk past every day to see it, and I thought that was really nice,” Susan said.

“Then I had a four-year-old boy. The mother wrote some of it for him, but he wrote his name, and it was backwards, but it was so cute,” she said.

Though the couple get quite the praise for their work, Susan stresses that the tradition carries on for the entertainment of others.

“We don’t want the thanks. We want people to enjoy it, especially the kids. With everything going wrong in the world, it’s nice for them to have some magic,” she said.