'Mr. Christmas' Found Only in Linthicum

After writing an article last week on the has held for the past 25 years, I knew I needed stop by.

Gilbert, affectionately known by many as Mr. Christmas, was so pleasant during our phone interview and I could hear his excitement and passion for the holiday. When he said I should stop by, I promised I would try my best.

Unfortunately schedule conflicts kept me from getting there until the last day of the open house last Sunday, but I knew that I needed to check it out when every time I mentioned Gilbert's Linthicum Heights home, people's faces lit up.

So Sunday afternoon I stopped by the house on Darlene Avenue to meet Gilbert face-to-face. And I wasn't disappointed—in the man or his beautiful decorations.

The house, which boasts more than 20 Christmas trees throughout and several delicate cross-stitch designs, was full of people right when the doors opened at 4 p.m. I found Gilbert and was greeted so warmly that I was glad I made the decision to take a break from running errands and stop by his home.

"Is there a tree in the kitchen, too?" I asked.

"Now don't give me any ideas," he joked.

The kitchen might be the only room in the house, besides the bathroom, that didn't have a tree. And even the bathroom shower curtain had Christmas trees on it. (My favorite was the upside-down tree in the living room.)

Many of the people visiting had been before and make it part of their holiday tradition to spend a little time each year with Gilbert, who opened his doors for the first time in 1987.

I'm happy I got a chance to meet Gilbert and can't wait to see what he does with his decorations next year.

Thank you so much Bob Mosier and Sharon Gilbert—Gilbert's daughter-in-law—for letting me know about the house. I'm glad you did.

So where in Glen Burnie, Brooklyn Park or Linthicum should I go next?