The Dark Side To A Grand Illumination: A Big Traffic Mess

LAHASKA, PA — Peddler's Village's annual Grand Illumination event is Friday. The tradition — when Santa flips the switch on literally a million Christmas lights at once — is a magical night for thousands of children.

But there is one subset of the local population for which the evening is far from magical. In fact, it's downright frightful.

Residents surrounding Peddler's Village say the traffic and parking issues associated with the popular event are a headache.

Indeed, between 5,000 and 8,000 people are expected to descend upon the village Friday evening. That's the estimate from Christine Hensel Triantos, the village's director of marketing and communications. And there's plenty of buzz about it each year, making it more and more popular. This year, Kate Bilo of CBS3 will also be covering the event with live segments.

RELATED: 'Grand Illumination' At Peddler's Village Is Friday

It's an evening to dread for those who live nearby, said resident Michael McDonagh. He says the traffic is so bad during the event, he works from home to avoid the evening commute. He learned the hard way: a few years ago, his normally 40-minute commute took him four hours on the night of the Grand Illumination.

McDonagh estimates the Grand Illumination ceremony causes traffic backups and gridlock for as much as five miles in all directions surrounding the shopping area.

"This is a danger to everyone who gets caught in the traffic, since they are stuck for hours on end, and also a danger to local residents like me who are blocked in their neighborhoods (or blocked away) for hours on end, since emergency vehicles will not be able to get through to help anybody, whether it be a medical issue, a safety issue, or a fire," McDonagh said.

Police in both Solebury and Buckingham townships are aware of the situation and say they prepare for the event — and the traffic it brings — each year.

"Traffic is always a problem, but we try and keep everything moving as best we can," said Solebury Township Chief of Police Dominick Bellizzie. That department will have three officers working the detail along with an additional officer from Buckingham, Bellizzie said.

He said despite the traffic, emergency vehicles can get in if needed. "We have posted the area with no parking signs, which will also help," he added.

Lieutenant J.R. Landis of the Buckingham Township Police Department said traffic does jam during the events, sometimes to Holicong Road — about a mile and a half away. "This traffic will cause first responder-type vehicles to reduce their speed along Route 202, however the roadway is wide enough for them to pass," he said.

Landis said there isn't much the police can do, since it's strictly a volume problem. "We do have several officers detailed to the event to ensure public safety on the ground," he said.

Village representatives say they empathize with the surrounding residents and do what they can to inform them ahead of time. "We recognize that the festivals and major events like the Grand Illumination are very popular, and we understand that our neighbors contend with traffic issues when these take place," Triantos said.

She says Peddler's Village works closely with both Solebury and Buckingham township police departments leading up to the Grand Illumination and other popular events. Both police and Peddler's Village take steps in advance to inform the public of potential traffic and parking complications, she noted.

Police will often post signs on Rt. 202 to alert residents several days before an event, Triantos said. Information is posted to the Peddler's Village website, as well as to those who subscribe to their emails. Social media is also used as a tool to inform residents and out-of-town guests of the potential issue.

"On our website and on social media, we advise out-of-town guests to arrive early to major events and make them aware of potential traffic issues and the fact that we have finite parking," Triantos said.

But for residents like McDonagh, that's just not enough. He said he hopes Peddler's Village will work with local officials to remedy the problem, and suggests moving the Grand Illuminiation event to a Saturday so it doesn't overlap with the evening commute.

Bob McGowan, the Chief Operating Officer of Peddler's Village, said the shopping area values its relationship with the neighbors.

"We value our relationship with local residents as much as we value the support of our guests from farther distances. That’s why we present free outdoor movies and food truck evenings, for example, which are specifically intended for our neighbors, and why we are committed to dining discounts for locals through our Local & Loyal program. We want them to feel that Peddler’s Village is a community asset that will always welcome them with open arms."

If you plan on attending, it's best to arrive early. The festivities start at 6 p.m. At 6:15 p.m. sharp, Santa and his helper will flip the switch. More info is here.