Christmas lights that stop traffic

The Christmas lights display at Jack Yoast’s home on Butler Pike in Ambler would leave the paterfamilias of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” weeping with envy.

Clark Griswold, you have more than met your match.

His name is Jack Yoast; he’s head of a telecommunications firm named Acteon Networks, and the Christmas lights extravaganza he mounted this year at his home on Butler Pike in Ambler would leave the paterfamilias of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” weeping with envy.

Yoast’s display, sprawling all over his large house, the trees above, and a huge lawn with ponds, has been snarling traffic on Butler all month, while causing motorists on the nearby Fort Washington Expressway to tap their brakes in surprise and awe.

The display includes at least 140,000 lights (there’s a closest-guess contest running). It shuts down at 9 each night so the neighbors can get some sleep. This is Yoast’s fourth year doing this over-the-top effort. Santa Claus has been visiting regularly, with his last appearance scheduled for Friday night, Dec. 23.

All donations from the thousands and thousands who have strolled in, around and through the light show on a path that winds through the properly go to the Ambler Community Cupboard.

Get directions, more information and photos.