‘Tis the Season to Get Overly Excited!
Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit with a magical walk around the Winter Wonderland at Overly’s Country Christmas in Westmoreland County.
Overly’s Country Christmas is a nonprofit organization operated by 300+ volunteers who are committed to creating holiday memories with a unique, walk-around Christmas village. This is not a drive through light display (though the driveway is lined with a lighted display), but rather a place where you can experience the sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and the magic of an old-fashioned Christmas.
Designed to be like a country-style miniature Christmas village like you’d find under the Christmas tree, the village gives you all the holiday feels. Immerse yourself in the jingly holiday tingles as you stroll through the charming lights and sights while Christmas carols fill the air.
Overly’s charitable work provides memorable moments to children in some of the area’s most neglected neighborhoods, bestows unforgettable experiences to those with life-threatening and terminal illnesses, provides an outlet for troubled youths to give back to the community on a year-round basis, and is a donation site for Share the Magic — helping those in need by providing a permanent donation site for nonperishable food, toys or pet food.
Things to Do
On special nights, local school and church groups perform medleys of holiday classics. Warm your heart, soul, and hands near the bonfire while sipping a hot chocolate or roasting marshmallows.
At Hartman Station, a G-Gauge model train display and museum, listen to the whistle of a steam train. Meet Santa in the Santa’s Workshop or just drop off a letter for him in his mailbox. It’s free to talk to Santa, but if you’d like a picture with him it’s a minimum $5 cash donation. At Overly’s traditional Christmas nativity, enjoy live animals, including Edgar the donkey, sheep, and goats.
Years ago when Harry Overly started the display at his home, many of his displays were made of plywood, designed and painted by local school art clubs and artists groups. A few of the original Overly displays are still on display, though many have been converted to LED. Between 8-13 new displays (all made in the USA) are added each year.
Food + Drink
Fill up on holiday cheer by filling your belly. Country classic fare is available at the Country Kitchen, Kettle Korn, and Sweet Shop — cheeseburgers, hamburgers, hot dogs, soft pretzels, hot drinks, kettle corn, homemade fudge, gourmet chocolates, funnel cakes, and more.
Just for Kids Activities!
A great destination for families, Overly’s has magical memory-making holiday activities for all the elf-sized littles in your life. Set them on memory-making journeys along the Kids’ Express Train ($3/person per ride) or off along a Tractor Wagon Ride ($6/adult; $5/kid ages 12 and under).
There’s a winter playground just for kids to scramble through Snowman Tunnels. They can play with the ‘big trucks’ at Santa’s Construction Zone and imagine being at the North Pole on Santa’s Playset. They’ll dream of being an engineer on a wooden train engine traveling back to the North Pole. And for a whimsical conversation, just visit Henny Hemlock, the Talking Christmas Tree.
Planning Your Trip:
Overly’s is located in Greensburg at 116 Blue Ribbon Ln, Greensburg, PA 15601.
This is an outdoor family event with some retail and display areas in minimally heated buildings. Dress warm.
Arrive at least one hour before the scheduled closing time. Be prepared for traffic back-ups. Here are Overly’s recommended directions.
Bring Cash
There is a $10 minimum on any and all credit/debit card transactions at the admission booth, Country Kitchen, Sweet Shop, Gift Shop & Kettle Korn Stand.
Cash only for Santa’s Workshop Donations, Lil D’s Funnel Cakes & Fries, Wagon Rides & Kids Express Rides.
Admission
Admission is cash only.
- Option 1: Pay per carload. $25 per family carload (max 8 people). $40 for vehicles with 9+ people (excluding buses). Call them for bus pricing. Pay per Carload includes a drive thru of the lights and your visit to Christmas Village.
- Option 2: Park & Walk. $5.00 per person. Park & Walk includes Christmas Village but does not include the drive thru of the lights, but it does have a lower wait time.
Operating Schedule
Open select days November 16 – December 30, 2023.
- Thursdays & Sundays: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
- Fridays & Saturdays: 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM
- December 18, 19, 20, 26, & 27: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
- Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
- November 30th is Military/Veteran Day – free carload admission with a military/veteran ID.
Gates are open weather permitting. Visit their calendar for more info and to stay up to date on any operating schedule changes. Follow them on Facebook or call 724-423-1400 for updated information.
Parking
The traffic line for carload admission to Overly’s Christmas Village and a limited space paved parking lot turns over typically every 1 to 1.5 hours, longer in milder weather. Parking wait times can vary and be as long as 3-4 hours. It’s recommended to visit Monday-Thursday for shorter wait times.
Alternatively choose Park At Your Own Risk in the fairgrounds fields, conditions permitting, and pay a per person charge at the gate to enter. Access to the fields is at the first entrance to the fairgrounds (at the Westmoreland Fair sign) Lane 5 and Lane 2 from the traffic queue. Wait times vary by lane as well.
More details are available on their website.
Now bundle up and ready yourself for all the holiday feels — It’s time to Get Overly Excited.
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.