For Southern Marylanders, visiting the Flat Iron Farm at Christmas is as close as it gets to visiting Santa at the North Pole.
The annual spectacle of lights began on Thanksgiving Day and runs through Jan. 1, 2009 . Visitors to the Flat Iron Farm can turn their car radios to 88.7 FM and hear music synchronized with the lights which cover several houses and displays.
This expansive exhibit is the brainchild of Bubby Knott, owner of the farm. Knott has been putting on this display for the past 15 years. Each year it gets bigger and bigger. Knott says “When you create a monster, you have to keep feeding it.”
Three years ago he added the satellite radio which visitors can listen to Christmas music while driving through. Two years ago a Christmas Shop was added where visitors can purchase toys, gifts, ornaments and other Christmas items. When asked what his motivation for doing this, Knott said “It’s for the kids. Kids are so innocent. They tell you what they think.”
Knott explained that a Christmas bell which usually hangs out front has malfunctioned this year. An 8-year old boy visiting the farm recently came to Knott and said “Where’s the bell.”
Knott does not keep track of how many persons visit the farm each season, but said on a weekend it would not be uncommon to have a couple of thousand people come through each night.
Each year Knott puts a person in charge of designing and laying out the display. This year Mickey Moran was that person. He lives on site at the Flat Iron Farm. This is his fourth year participating in the project, but his first year being in charge. Moran decides where everything goes. With the aid of four others, he began erecting this year’s display on Oct. 31.
In addition to the enormous light display, there is a petting zoo, pony rides, candy and snack shop and you can even roast marshmallows over a camp fire. The highlight of any child’s visit to the farm, though, would be their visit with Santa.
Adults enjoy their visit as well. One barn houses several old antique cars and carriages as well as a significant display of John Deere items. Frank Trossbach is the owner of the John Deere display and has been accumulating his collectibles for 35 years. In the spirit of Christmas, Trossbach has three trains running on tracks around the display.
To get to the Flat Iron Farm, take Point Lookout Road to Flat Iron Road in Great Mills. Proceed 1.4 miles and the farm is on the right.
There is no charge to enter the farm and tour the displays. A small fee is charged to ride the ponies and pictures with Santa, which is sponsored by the riding club.