No longer will a simple display of outdoor Christmas lights do for the avid front-lawn Xmas decorator. Giant inflatable and animated Santas, snowmen, even nine-foot tall nativity scenes grace lawns in neighborhoods across the country.
Let Santa know your address with Christmas yard art and holiday lawn displays that broadcast your over-the-top enthusiasm for the holiday season. Online retailers sell a variety outdoor Christmas decorations, ranging from flashy to classy.
Following are a few examples of outdoor Christmas décor available online, some with free shipping.
Animated Christmas Outdoor Ferris Wheel
Homedepot.com offers free shipping on this seven-foot-tall Christmas-themed Ferris wheel (see photo below) that rotates like the summer carnival staple, except this ride carries a snowman, reindeer, elf, penguin, polar bear, and Santa. A spotlight accompanies the nylon structure, which collapses for easy storage. Price: $199. Shipping is free.
Realistic Inflatable Nativity Scene
Secular themes have no monopoly on large inflatable Christmas lawn decorations; just look at the Airblown-brand realistic inflatable nativity scene available through Lowes.com (pictured below). Standing 96 inches tall, 60 inches wide, and 50 inches longs, the Holy Family figures have realistic features and the whole manger scene self-inflates in seconds. Price: $200. Shipping varies.
Realistic Waving Inflatable Santa
The Realistic Waving Inflatable Santa (see photo below) from Yardinflatables.com presents a life-size Santa that seems ready to take a child on his lap and elicit a long list of Christmas present wishes. Made by Gemmy, this Santa comes with a fan, internal lights to illuminate the decoration at night, yard stakes, a stand, and tethers. Price: $119. Shipping varies.
Heat Miser and Snow Miser Metal Christmas Yard Art
Deck your lawn with Heat Miser and Snow Miser, two of the most memorable characters from the 1974 Christmas special The Year Without a Santa Claus. The 42-inch tall metal sculptures, available from Improvements Catalog online, come with a stand, stakes, and a floodlight. They also fold down for easy storage. Price for both: $114.98. Shipping is $16.99.
Oversized Outdoor Christmas Ornaments
These giant ornaments in classic shapes and designs from Grandin Road come pre-strung with lights and are ready to hang outdoors from a tree, trellis, or porch. Made from steel and PVC, five oversized ornaments are available, ranging from 12 inches in diameter to 30 inches long, and in round and teardrop shapes. Prices: from $29 to $59 each. Shipping starts at $8.
Use caution when using outdoor inflatable decorations. Place the object in a flat area and secure it with tethers and stakes. Operate the fan for no more than eight hours continuously.
Judith Zwolak - Judy is a mother of two and a freelance writer living in South Dakota. Raised by notoriously frugal parents, she comes by her family ...
