Few know that better than Laura Thake, the founder of Holiday Light Hopping, a website that catalogs our area’s most fantastic home light displays. A graphic designer and photographer, Thake takes submissions and scopes out extravagant displays — only shouting out the most worthy.
“I love it when you can see a display the minute you turn the corner, and you know where you're supposed to be going — there's no question,” Thake says.
Thake began Holiday Light Hopping in 2016 with Christmas lights, later adding Halloween displays, driven by memories of her parents loading her into the car and heading out in a random direction from their Crestwood home. It’s a tradition she continues with her nieces and nephews and one that she invites everyone in St. Louis to pick up, with her help, of course.
“It was always such a thrill to get in the car and go out at night,” she says. “It's a great family bonding experience, [but] most of all, it’s just fun.”
Scroll down for some of Thake’s favorite Halloween light displays on the streets of St. Louis this fall — and then either head to holidaylighthopping.com for more, or go visit some of these in person. Prepare to freak yourself out.
