'Monticello Lights' display backs up traffic in Delmont, second night set for Sunday

When residents of Monticello Drive in Delmont replaced their annual holiday party with a neighborhood drive-thru Christmas-light competition, they were hoping for an enjoyable weekend and a chance to raise a little money for charity.

What they didn’t expect was a four-and-a-half-hour parade of cars that backed up traffic along Route 66 on Saturday night, with a second night coming on Sunday.

“It was like the Apple’n Arts Festival in December,” joked borough Police Chief TJ Klobucar. “It was pretty amazing how big of a crowd it drew.”

Neighborhood residents traditionally gather for a big house party this time of year. But with health and safety concerns at the forefront, neighbors opted for a friendly decorating competition. Members of the public could drive by — and still can, as the competition will continue Sunday night from 6-9 p.m. — “choosing” their favorite by donating at the house they like most.

Proceeds will be split between the Delmont Public Library and Project Bundle Up.

Monticello resident Kelly Mazon was finishing up her preparations early Saturday evening around 5:30 p.m.

“I turned around and there was just a stream of cars coming down hill,” Mazon said. “It was non-stop. I looked at my daughter and said, ‘Oh my gosh.’ ”

The line of cars continued until about 10:30 p.m., she said.

Saturday’s drizzly weather tapered off just in time.

“The biggest surprise to me was that people were willing to wait an hour, hour-and-a-half in traffic, and it’s not like this is Hartwood Acres, this is Monticello Drive,” Mazon said. “I was just hoping our lights held up to their expectations!”

Klobucar said the police department did field a fair number of complaints about the traffic, “but we addressed them the same way we always do,” he said. “We’re going to let it play out (on Sunday night) and address the situation as needed.”

Mazon said a good number of people driving through the neighborhood — her husband estimated a total of about 1,400 cars passed by over the course of the evening — thanked residents for putting it on.

“I can’t tell you how many people said, ‘Thank you, we needed this,’ ” she said.

The “Monticello Lights” decorating contest will run again Sunday night, 6-9 p.m. along the length of Monticello Drive in Delmont.