Bullhead City couple display Christmas spirit

"We love Christmas," she said.

Indeed, the Longs do. It shows in the painstaking, elaborate display that takes more than two months to put up — and even longer to take down.

"We start Oct. 1," Tim Long said. "We're usually ready by that first weekend in December. A little more than two months (to work on it), a few hours a day and a lot on weekends."

"And it ends around March 1," Sandy said with a laugh. "That's if we're really inspired to take it down."

The Longs open up their home on Arcadia Boulevard for public viewing, starting Dec. 13 and continuing through Dec. 23. Viewing hours are 7 to 9 p.m. The Longs use the open house to collect food for the Set Free Ministries, asking viewers to bring a food item. Non-perishable (boxed or canned) foods are accepted, as are turkeys and hams and other perishable items. Cash donations also are accepted with all going to help feed needy people through the Set Free food program.

Christmas has always been an important season for the Longs, who have been married for 25 years.

"When we first got together, we both realized that Christmas was important to both of us," Tim says. "Our Christmas village, that first year, we had three buildings and seven figurines under the Christmas tree."

"It's substantially more than that now," Sandy added, laughing at the understatement.

Try 140 buildings in a Victorian Christmas village that transforms the family room into "Longville." And how about over 1,000 figurines. And 50,000 or so lights outside — and another substantial, as yet uncalculated, number inside. And 16 Christmas trees, each with its own theme. And 70 nativity scenes. And several Santas.

Yes, the Longs certainly love Christmas.

"We came from a large town (Tucson) to a small town," Tim said. "In the large city, we were just two people. We did didn't have a big impact. Here, we do.

"This was a personal outlet that allowed us to put our own influence on the community."

They started it in Tucson, on a smaller scale, and soon had neighbors joining in on the holiday spirit.

"And that wasn't anything compared to what we do now," Sandy said. "We thought maybe we could inspire people to decorate."

The Longs said they've urged others to do something — OK, maybe not on the Long scale of "something" — but have met with some resistance.

"They say they're worried about their decorations being stolen or vandalized," Sandy said. "We've never been vandalized, never had anything stolen."

The Longs have scheduled entertainment for some of the nights and hope to add more.

Bullhead City Mayor Jack Hakim was a guest on Sunday for opening ceremonies. Pianist Susan Hanson is scheduled to be on hand Wednesday and Dec. 23; magician Michael Rovno is penciled in on Thursday; and guitarist Lino Murillo will present a "Rockin' Santa Review" on Saturday.

Santa himself is scheduled to make an appearance Friday.

Brake Masters, Tims employer, is sponsor of the project with Lowe's and the Riverside Hotel Casino helping furnish materials. For the most part, though, its stuff the Longs have collected over the years.

"Everywhere," Sandy said. "We go on vacation and the souvenirs we get are Christmas."

Friends aware of the Longs' passion for Christmas and the display also pitch in, bringing them a special figurine or ornament to add to the collection.

It's a lot of work, work the Longs complete in their spare time between their jobs. But, they both insist, it's worth it.

"I think the ultimate reward ... it's the people who come in and go 'Ive never seen anything like this before,'" Sandy said.

"The 'wow' factor," Tim added.

"It's just fun," Sandy said with a giggle. "It's a lot of work, but it's fun."