Local family to compete in the Great Christmas Light Fight on Dec. 16

Each year, children and adults alike look forward to heading over to Phillips Avenue in Hamilton to visit Martel’s Christmas Wonderland.

For more than 30 years, Bob Martel and his family have been delighting Mercer County area visitors with Christmas lights galore, holiday-themed figurines, and walk-thru displays that fill both his front and back yards. Every year, the displays seem to become more intricate and cover more of the space on the property.

Fortunately for Martel, his children and grandchildren have been eager helpers, making the months of planning and work a team effort.

This month, locals and people all over the country will get a behind-the-scenes look at Martel’s Christmas Wonderland when the family competes in the Great Christmas Light Fight. The Martels will be on the ABC show on Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 9 to 10 p.m. Bob Martel and his wife Charmaine Martel, son Tim Martel and wife Jess Martel, daughter Christina Martel and her kids, Matthew and Sierra, will all be on the show.

“It was such a heartfelt amazing experience we can not put into words how thankful our family is to be apart of the show!,” said Jess Martel. “Now that we finally have an air date, we are so excited and can’t wait to finally be able to watch it and see how it all came together. It was such an amazing experience!”

If you decide to visit, don’t forget your mask. Visitors must wear a mask at all times because of the pandemic. Also, even though the snowmen, elves, toy soldiers, and other holiday figurines filling the lawns at Martel’s Christmas Wonderland aren’t socially distanced, you must be. The family is limiting occupancy to maintain proper social distancing, so you may have to wait in line when you arrive. We recommend going on a weeknight when there are no crowds.

Martel’s Christmas Wonderland is open every night from about 6 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m. unless the weather is bad. Updates are posted on the Martel’s Christmas Wonderland Facebook group. The show runs through early January. The display is free, but donations are accepted to cover some of the costs of the show. 21 Phillips Avenue, Hamilton, New Jersey.