Every holiday season, ordinary homes across Alberta come alive with Christmas lights, but few have built the reputation of the Stony Plain Griswold Home. Located in Stony Plain, west of Edmonton, this privately owned residence has become a local Christmas attraction by recreating the exaggerated festive spirit of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Thousands of lights cover the property, while movie-inspired details such as an RV, Cousin Eddie references, and the Griswold-style station wagon help turn a suburban home into something that feels like a scene from the 1989 comedy.
The attraction is not a historic house museum despite the word “history” sometimes appearing in searches for it. Its history is the story of a homeowner’s Christmas decorating tradition growing into a community event that attracts families from around the Edmonton region. Global News reported that homeowner Jon Harringa began with a relatively modest display in 2013 before a friendly decorating competition with neighbours pushed things much further. By 2020, the property featured roughly 34,000 lights and had developed its recognizable Griswold theme.
If you are thinking about seeing the Stony Plain Griswold Home, here is what makes it special, how the tradition developed, what to look for, and what to know before planning a holiday visit.
What Is the Stony Plain Griswold Home?
The Stony Plain Griswold Home is a privately owned residence in the Briarwood Point area of Stony Plain, Alberta, that is transformed into an elaborate Christmas display during the holiday season. Its nickname comes from the Griswold family in the 1989 comedy National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, in which Clark Griswold attempts to create an impossibly extravagant Christmas for his family.
The Stony Plain version takes that concept seriously.
Media coverage has documented tens of thousands of lights covering the house and property along with recognizable references to the movie. Global News reported approximately 34,000 lights in 2020 and described the display as including a motorhome and a Clark Griswold-themed yard feature. Later coverage of Stony Plain Lane continued to describe the Griswold property as having more than 34,000 lights.
The property eventually became part of a larger neighbourhood Christmas experience known as Stony Plain Lane, where additional nearby homes participate in holiday decorating. That makes the visit more interesting than simply driving past one brightly lit house.
Visitors should remember that this remains a residential neighbourhood rather than a commercial theme park. There is no conventional ticket booth, attraction entrance, museum tour, or large dedicated visitor facility.
Its appeal is precisely the opposite: it is an ambitious community Christmas tradition built around a real home.
The History Behind the Stony Plain Griswold Home
The story began before the property became known as the Griswold House.
In 2020, homeowner Jon Harringa told Global News that he had started putting up Christmas lights in 2013. His first displays were relatively ordinary, but nearby neighbours had larger decorations, creating what he described as a friendly competition. Over time, the number of lights increased dramatically.
By Christmas 2020, that friendly competition had evolved into something much bigger.
The display had reached approximately 34,000 lights, and Harringa recreated elements inspired by National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Global News reported that his father-in-law helped with a motorhome and a Clark Griswold yard display, while the decorating process itself took Harringa about 15 consecutive days working long hours.
The Griswold-themed version quickly gained attention beyond Stony Plain. Edmonton-area media and social channels began featuring the house, and visitors started driving from around the region to see it.
By 2021, the house was part of a broader neighbourhood celebration known as the 12 Streets of Christmas, with Global News identifying the popular Griswold home as one of the attractions within the community event.
The community celebration later became known as Stony Plain Lane. In 2022, Global News reported that the renamed neighbourhood attraction still included the Griswold home with more than 34,000 lights.
What started as competitive Christmas decorating had become a recognizable local holiday tradition.
Why the House Is Inspired by National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Understanding the display is much easier if you know the movie behind it.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation follows Clark Griswold as he tries to create the perfect family Christmas. One of the film’s most memorable sequences involves Clark covering his home in an absurd number of Christmas lights, only to struggle spectacularly with getting them to work.
The Stony Plain display recreates the exaggerated visual style associated with that movie rather than merely using the Griswold name.
Global News described the 2020 version as a recreation of a beloved Christmas Vacation scene and documented movie-related elements around the property. Edify Edmonton later highlighted replicas of the RV and Cousin Eddie and counted approximately 33,800 lights at the display.
The references have continued in later seasons.
Visitor guides for the 2025 Christmas season described an RV, Cousin Eddie, Santa and reindeer, and a station wagon associated with the Griswold theme.
That attention to recognizable details is what separates the home from an ordinary property covered in colourful bulbs.
Someone who has never watched the movie can still enjoy the lights. Fans, however, have an additional challenge: spotting the visual jokes and props that reference particular moments from the film.
That combination of nostalgia and spectacle explains much of the attraction’s popularity.
What to See at the Stony Plain Griswold Home
The biggest mistake would be driving past quickly, seeing a bright house through the windshield, and assuming you have seen everything. Much of the fun comes from noticing the smaller movie references scattered through the display.
The exact setup can change between seasons, and visitors should not assume that every prop appears every year. However, past versions give a clear idea of what has made the property famous.
Thousands of Christmas Lights
The most obvious feature is the enormous quantity of lighting.
The display had reached around 34,000 lights by 2020, according to Global News, while Edify Edmonton reported a figure of 33,800. Later coverage continued describing the Griswold House as having more than 34,000 lights.
Rather than restricting lights to the roofline or a few trees, the design aims for the deliberately excessive appearance associated with Clark Griswold.
Visitors should look across the entire property instead of focusing only on the front of the house. Rooflines, yard decorations and movie props combine to create the full effect.
The Griswold-Style RV
One of the most recognizable pieces is the motorhome inspired by Cousin Eddie’s RV from Christmas Vacation.
The RV has appeared repeatedly in coverage of the attraction and is one of the elements that instantly signals that this is not simply another Christmas-light display. Global News documented a motorhome as part of the 2020 recreation, and later local guides continued highlighting the RV among the reasons to visit.
Movie fans will immediately understand the joke.
Cousin Eddie References
The Cousin Eddie character is central to some of the movie’s most memorable scenes, and the Stony Plain display has incorporated references to him alongside the RV.
Edify Edmonton specifically described replicas of both the RV and Cousin Eddie at the property.
These details give families something to search for beyond the lights themselves.
The Griswold Station Wagon
Recent seasonal guides have also highlighted a station wagon displayed with the Christmas setup. Edmonton Family’s 2025 guide told visitors to watch for the Griswold family’s 1989 Ford Taurus Wagon in the driveway.
Whether every prop returns unchanged each year depends on the homeowner’s current setup, so treat previous displays as examples rather than a guaranteed checklist for future seasons.
The Stony Plain Lane Christmas Experience
The Stony Plain Griswold Home may be the headline attraction, but it eventually helped inspire something larger than one property.
As more neighbours participated in elaborate holiday decorating, the surrounding community became an attraction of its own.
Global News covered the neighbourhood celebration as the 12 Streets of Christmas in 2021, describing a community effort to spread holiday spirit while identifying the Griswold home as one of its best-known displays. By the following year, the event had adopted the name Stony Plain Lane, with the neighbourhood continuing to add decorations around the famous house.
The development makes sense given how the original display grew.
Harringa’s own decorating tradition began partly because of friendly competition with neighbours. Instead of that competition remaining between two houses, the surrounding community eventually turned collective decorating into a seasonal experience.
Past Stony Plain Lane events have included additional features such as:
- Decorated neighbouring homes
- Community light-up events
- Santa appearances
- Hot chocolate
- Popcorn
- Seasonal characters
- Food-bank collection points
For example, the December 2024 Stony Plain Lane light-up promoted visits with Santa and the Grinch along with hot chocolate, popcorn and donations for the Parkland Food Bank Society.
That means visitors should allow time to look around the neighbourhood instead of treating the Griswold House as a 30-second roadside stop.
Visiting the Stony Plain Griswold Home: What You Need to Know
The property is in the Briarwood Point area of Stony Plain. The house’s own social-media listings and multiple recent visitor guides identify the attraction at 63 Briarwood Point, while some media and travel articles have listed 64 Briarwood Point. Because this is a private residence and online listings have not always been consistent, checking the official Griswold House – Stony Plain page before travelling is sensible.
Another important point is seasonality.
This is a Christmas display, not a permanent attraction that operates throughout the year. Visiting in summer will not provide the experience shown in holiday photographs.
As of August 2026, a confirmed public schedule for the 2026 Christmas display was not available in the sources reviewed for this guide. The latest confirmed season was 2025, when local guides reported the lights switching on November 21.
Historically, illumination has generally begun after dark. The display’s Facebook information has previously described evening hours around 5 p.m. through late evening, while seasonal guides advise arriving soon after dark for a quieter experience.
Do not assume last year’s date or schedule applies automatically in 2026. Check current announcements closer to November or December.
Is There an Admission Fee?
One of the appealing aspects of the Stony Plain Griswold Home has been that visitors have historically been able to enjoy the holiday display without buying a conventional admission ticket.
For the 2025 season, Edmonton Family reported that there was no cost to see the display, while food-bank donations were accepted. Alberta Mamas likewise listed the Griswold House and Stony Plain Lane among free Christmas-light experiences and identified the Parkland Food Bank Society as the associated charity.
The charitable component is an important part of how the neighbourhood tradition evolved.
Earlier Stony Plain Lane events encouraged visitors to bring cash or non-perishable food donations for the Parkland Food Bank Society. A past social-media report connected with the display stated that an earlier fundraising effort collected substantial food and financial support for the food bank.
Visitors should nevertheless confirm the arrangements for the season they plan to attend.
The homeowner and community may alter donation procedures, special-event dates or collection points from year to year.
Even when admission remains free, bringing an appropriate food-bank donation is a meaningful way to support the community effort behind the display.
Best Time to Visit the Griswold House
Timing can make a major difference.
The display is most impressive once darkness has fully arrived, because tens of thousands of lights lose much of their visual impact during daylight. At the same time, arriving during the busiest holiday evenings can mean significantly heavier neighbourhood traffic.
The attraction has been popular enough to draw visitors from across the Edmonton area. Global News noted as early as 2020 that people were driving in to see the display, while later guides specifically recommended visiting early in the season or on a weeknight for smaller crowds.
A sensible strategy is:
- Visit on a weekday when possible.
- Arrive shortly after darkness falls.
- Avoid the busiest final days immediately before Christmas if crowds concern you.
- Allow enough time to see the surrounding Stony Plain Lane displays.
- Check social media before travelling in case weather, maintenance or scheduling affects the lights.
Special community light-up nights can offer more activities, but they are also likely to attract larger numbers of visitors.
If your priority is photographs and slowly looking at the details, choose a quieter evening.
If you want Santa, treats and a stronger community-event atmosphere, a designated light-up night may be the better experience whenever one is announced.
Driving, Walking and Neighbourhood Etiquette
Remember where you are: the Griswold House is someone’s home, and Stony Plain Lane is a residential neighbourhood.
That changes how visitors should behave.
Do not block driveways, stop traffic for photographs, walk onto private lawns or assume every neighbouring property is open to visitors. Decorations being visible from the street do not eliminate the residents’ privacy.
During busier evenings, driving slowly through the neighbourhood may seem convenient, but a long line of vehicles can create congestion. Past local guides have recommended getting out and walking around to appreciate both the Griswold property and other displays on the lane.
If you walk:
- Dress for Alberta winter conditions.
- Watch for ice and snow.
- Keep children close to you near traffic.
- Stay on public sidewalks and permitted areas.
- Keep noise reasonable.
- Follow any temporary parking or traffic instructions.
- Do not touch props or decorations.
- Take garbage with you.
Photography from public areas is part of the experience for many visitors, but be considerate about photographing residents themselves.
The display continues because homeowners are willing to put significant time, money and effort into creating it.
Respecting the neighbourhood is one of the easiest ways visitors can help keep the tradition enjoyable.
Is the Stony Plain Griswold Home a Historic Landmark?
No—not in the traditional heritage sense.
Search results sometimes categorize the Stony Plain Griswold Home alongside other attractions, which can give the impression that it is a preserved historical residence or museum. Trip.com, for example, lists the property as a Stony Plain attraction.
But the site’s significance comes from its modern Christmas tradition, not architectural heritage.
Its documented story largely concerns the evolution of the Christmas display: Harringa’s early decorating beginning in 2013, the dramatic expansion of the lights, the Christmas Vacation recreation gaining widespread attention around 2020, and the surrounding neighbourhood becoming part of the larger Stony Plain Lane tradition.
That distinction is worth making because it sets the correct expectations.
You do not visit to tour historic rooms, learn about early Alberta settlement or view preserved artifacts.
You visit to see what happens when enthusiastic residential Christmas decorating, movie fandom and community participation grow into a recognizable local holiday attraction.
In that sense, the house has developed its own local cultural history in a relatively short period.
Its story is less about the age of the building and more about how a family’s decoration project became part of the holiday calendar for people around Stony Plain and Edmonton.
How Long Should You Spend at the Stony Plain Griswold Home?
If you only want to see the main house from the street, the experience can be short. But that approach misses much of what has developed around the attraction.
Allow roughly 30 to 60 minutes if you want enough time to walk through the immediate area, inspect the Griswold-themed details, take photographs and see some neighbouring displays.
Special event nights may justify longer.
The broader Stony Plain Lane experience has previously included Santa, the Grinch, refreshments and community activities. On an evening when similar programming is offered, families may spend considerably more time in the neighbourhood.
Weather should also influence your plan.
A comfortable walk at -2°C is very different from standing outside during severe cold, snow or wind. Check conditions before departing and dress for the actual temperature rather than assuming you will remain in your vehicle.
For young children, it may be smarter to arrive shortly after sunset rather than later at night.
People primarily interested in photography might want additional time because there are many individual decorations and movie details rather than one single viewpoint.
The attraction works best when you approach it as a neighbourhood Christmas walk instead of a roadside landmark to tick off a checklist.
Why the Stony Plain Griswold Home Became So Popular
There are much larger professional Christmas-light attractions in Canada, so sheer scale alone does not fully explain the appeal.
The Stony Plain Griswold Home works because it combines several things people already love: Christmas nostalgia, a recognizable comedy, extreme decorating, local community spirit and the fact that a regular homeowner created it.
The transformation is part of the entertainment.
A normal suburban house becomes something deliberately excessive and theatrical for several weeks of the year.
The origin story also gives the attraction personality. Harringa told Global News that the decorating escalation grew from friendly competition after he saw what his neighbours were doing. That spirit later extended into the surrounding neighbourhood, eventually becoming the larger Stony Plain Lane celebration.
There is also a charitable element.
Rather than turning the popularity entirely into a commercial attraction, Stony Plain Lane and the Griswold House have used visitor attention to encourage support for the Parkland Food Bank.
That combination is difficult for a commercial display to reproduce.
Visitors are not simply looking at LEDs. They are seeing the result of homeowners voluntarily turning their neighbourhood into a shared Christmas experience.
Tips for Families Planning Their First Visit
A little preparation will make your first Stony Plain Griswold Home visit much easier.
Start by checking the display’s current social-media information. Because this is privately organized rather than a permanent municipal attraction, dates and operating times can change between seasons.
Next, think about when your family handles cold weather best.
Children who are already tired at 9 p.m. are unlikely to care how faithful the Cousin Eddie display is to the movie. An early-evening weekday visit is usually a more practical family option.
Bring:
- Warm coats and insulated footwear
- Gloves and hats
- A phone or camera
- A food-bank donation if current organizers are accepting them
- Reflective or visible clothing for children if walking after dark
- Patience during busy holiday evenings
Do not over-plan the experience.
Part of its charm is simply walking through a neighbourhood and discovering how much effort residents have put into Christmas.
Fans of Christmas Vacation may want to watch the movie beforehand so children and other family members recognize why there is an RV and why the display deliberately looks excessive.
Most importantly, check that the lights are operating before making a long trip.
As of August 2026, the upcoming 2026 Christmas-season launch date had not yet been confirmed in the public sources reviewed for this guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stony Plain Griswold Home
The Griswold House is unusual because it is widely discussed like a tourist attraction while remaining a privately decorated residence. That means information can vary from one Christmas season to another, and old dates should not automatically be reused for a future visit.
The latest firmly documented season in the sources reviewed was Christmas 2025, when the display returned for another year and switched on in late November. Visitors planning for 2026 should check for a fresh announcement closer to the holiday season.
Where is the Stony Plain Griswold Home?
The attraction is located on Briarwood Point in Stony Plain, Alberta. The home’s own social-media listings and several recent visitor guides identify 63 Briarwood Point as the Griswold House location, although a few published articles have used the neighbouring number 64. Checking the current official Griswold House page before travelling is therefore recommended.
How many lights are on the Stony Plain Griswold Home?
Coverage from 2020 reported approximately 34,000 lights, with one Edmonton publication giving the more specific figure of 33,800. Later coverage continued describing the property as having more than 34,000 lights. The exact count can change as decorations are added or modified between seasons.
Is the Stony Plain Griswold Home free to visit?
Historically, yes. The 2025 visitor information stated that there was no admission charge, although donations to the food bank were accepted. Stony Plain Lane has also previously collected food and cash donations for the Parkland Food Bank Society. Confirm current arrangements before your visit.
When are the Stony Plain Griswold Home lights on?
The display is seasonal and generally operates during Christmas evenings after dark. The 2025 season reportedly switched on November 21, while previous social-media information has described approximate evening hours beginning around 5 p.m. As of August 2026, a confirmed 2026 opening date was not available in the sources reviewed, so do not assume the 2025 schedule will repeat exactly.
What should I look for at the Griswold House?
Look beyond the huge quantity of Christmas lights. Past displays have included an RV inspired by Cousin Eddie, character references, a Griswold-style station wagon, Santa and reindeer decorations, and other details inspired by National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The exact collection can change from year to year.
Final Thoughts
The Stony Plain Griswold Home is a good example of how an ordinary neighbourhood Christmas tradition can grow into something much larger.
The story began with homeowner Jon Harringa putting up lights in 2013 and being drawn into a friendly decorating competition with neighbours. By 2020, the display had expanded to roughly 34,000 lights and incorporated an elaborate National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation theme.
From there, the idea spread beyond a single property.
Neighbouring homes participated, the community celebration evolved through the 12 Streets of Christmas into Stony Plain Lane, and charitable donations for the Parkland Food Bank became part of the experience.
For visitors, the main attractions remain simple: an enormous amount of Christmas lighting, recognizable movie references, the RV, Cousin Eddie details, the station wagon and the atmosphere created by the surrounding decorated neighbourhood.
Just keep one thing in mind when planning your trip: this is a seasonal private-home display, not a year-round attraction. As of August 2026, the sources reviewed for this guide did not yet provide a confirmed opening date or schedule for Christmas 2026. The most recent confirmed season was 2025.
Check the current Griswold House – Stony Plain or Stony Plain Lane announcements once the Christmas season approaches, visit after dark, bring a food-bank donation if the collection returns, and respect the neighbourhood while you enjoy the display.
For fans of Christmas Vacation, it is one of those Alberta holiday stops where the joke becomes much more impressive when you see just how far someone was willing to take it.