PILOT MOUNTAIN — As is the case with so many area residents, Thanksgiving Day is a special one for Larry and Rachel Charpiat and their family. But while others will be enjoying a turkey and all the trimmings, the Charpiats will postpone their meal for one day as they prepare to welcome old and new friends to their spectacular Christmas lights display.

“We look forward to Thanksgiving night for this,” Rachel Charpiat explained. “Our family joins us to help open things up and then we have our big Thanksgiving meal on Friday. We all really enjoy it.”

This marks the 43rd year that Larry Charpiat has hosted a Christmas lights display, beginning as a 19-year-old at his parents’ home in Hollywood, Fla. Throughout the years he has continued to decorate and add to his collection of lights and figures. Charpiat’s passion for decorating followed him to a new home in Kissimmee in 1985, where he custom-built a house to accommodate and highlight the still growing display.

In 1999 he and Pilot Mountain native Rachel Beck traveled to Hawaii where the two were married. And she was gradually drawn into his enthusiasm for the lights and the response they created in others until she reached the point of sharing his unbridled enthusiasm for the annual display.

In late 2004 Rachel Charpiat returned home to Pilot Mountain, bringing along her husband and their gigantic array of holiday lights and figurines.

The couple has since established a local reputation for decorating their home, outbuildings and an outdoor walking trail dubbed “Santa’s Enchanted Forest.” The collection now covers some two acres and contains thousands of lights and figures. Assorted animated displays are incorporated and many of the lights are coordinated to flash in time with accompanying Christmas tunes.

Last year about 6,000 visitors signed the couple’s guest book, although Larry Charpiat estimated the number of people passing through the display at closer to 10,000. Visitors, he noted, included residents of England, China, Germany and Afghanistan as well as California, Indiana, Nebraska and Washington, D.C.

“We’ve already heard from a lot of people who are looking forward to this year,” Rachel Charpiat said, “and we’re anxious to get started. Seeing old and new friends, it’s like a family reunion every year. We’re blessed to still be able to do this.”

The display’s popularity has prompted the Charpiats to continue to expand. This year will feature the addition of a needed parking area with more than 200 tons of gravel having already been spread and more to follow. Other additions will include a newly acquired outbuilding featuring the projected image of an animated “Santa’s Orchestra.”

With the help of ideas gathered while attending a summer Christmas lights convention in Louisville, Kent., several other features have been added. More animation will be featured as will the additional coordination of lights and music.

“And,” Rachel Charpiat noted, “we’ve changed things around some to give it a different look.”

Other additions include a golf cart, making the display handicap accessible, and lots of LED lighting.

“We’ve been blessed with some wonderful weather while we’re working,” she continued, “and everything will be ready for Thanksgiving night.”

The display, dubbed Pilot Mountain Christmas, is two miles east of Old U.S. 52 Bypass on N.C. 268 East. It will be lighted nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. from Thanksgiving evening through Jan. 2. There is no charge to visit the display, but donations are accepted. Additional information and a wealth of photos can be found at www.pilotmountainchristmas.com.

“For me,” Larry Charpiat explained with a smile, “this is fun. We enjoy putting it together and we especially enjoy seeing the faces of the children and adults who visit. After 43 years, it’s still growing and I still enjoy it. And I still have so many ideas, more than I have time and money.”