Local family shares joy with neighborhood through holiday decor

Super Mario. E.T. Evel Knievel. Minigolf. All conjure images of a festive holiday season, right? They do if you’re driving down Belmont Avenue in December and pass a certain house decked out in the most creative way. Welcome to the minds of the Milam family and their take on holiday decorating.

In the spirit of Electric Lizzyland and Gary Isett’s quirky yard art, let’s add the Milam family’s decorations to the list of East Dallas treasures and must-sees. In fact, it was Liz Simmons’ holiday display at her Hollywood/Santa Monica neighborhood home that inspired Mike Milam, a firefighter for the City of Dallas for almost 20 years, to expand beyond the traditional string of lights along his roof.

Mike, wife Katie and kids Merrick and Nash were awestruck each time they visited Liz’s yard at holiday time.

“I saw all the joy it brought to people,” Mike says. “Really, after seeing her decoration, I wanted to be part of that scene. It just took me a while to figure out how to do it.”

And, he admits, timing was everything. “We began creating larger and more elaborate decorations in 2020. The genesis of these efforts was partly due to COVID.” Like many families, they had a little more time on their hands during lockdown. “We were doing more crafts at the house with the kids and spending more time together.”

When family talk turned to the holidays, there was a lightbulb moment. “We had purchased a retro (Nintendo Entertainment System) game system, and my son and I were sharing that experience together. He came up with the theme.”

Thus, the family’s first over-the-top display was born, with a theme of Super Mario. “It was a way of having a family project and creating a new family tradition.”

How’s this for creativity?

“We transformed the front of our house into a 16-foot TV displaying a scene from Super Mario 3. We included two controllers and the gaming system scaled to the size of the TV. To tie it together, we put a note to Santa requesting Super Mario for Christmas,” Mike smiles.

He explains that they usually settle on a theme during the summer.

“From there, we start drawing it out, figure out what we can make versus purchase and set up a game plan for the build-out.” Then the work begins. Over the years, they’ve created magic with wood, foam board, bikes, motorcycles, astroturf, mannequins, costumes and other bits and pieces.

Following Super Mario, the family decided to honor a favorite movie, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Inspired by the iconic scene in which the alien and the kids fly through the air on bicycles, the Milam crew got busy.

“We built a life-sized sleigh with Santa being pulled by five bikes, with each kid dressed as they were in the movie. E.T. was in Elliott’s basket, lighting up his finger, playing off on the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer concept.”

Year No. 3 was something completely different. Are you old enough to remember stunt performer Evel Knievel and his daredevil jump at Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas? 

“We built a ramp and found a motorcycle of a similar type and year to the one Evel jumped. We painted a helmet and made an outfit similar to the original jump. The bike appears to be mid-jump about 3/4 off the ramp. In his hand, he has a Christmas tree star. On the other side of the yard, we built a 20-foot Christmas tree. So we were attempting to portray Evel jumping a ramp to put the star on the Christmas tree.”

The theme the following year was an homage to firefighting.

“Through a combination of wood cutouts and flame-colored light bulbs, we made it appear our house was on fire, and Santa was stuck in the chimney. I rented an old fire truck from the Hispanic Firefighter Association and parked it in front of the house. We had four firefighters squirting water (Christmas lights), attempting to put out the fire.”

And then there was last year, the very popular Putt Putt golf course right on the Milams’ front lawn. Each of the six holes, to the delight of folks who stopped by to play, displayed a different holiday theme.

So, Milam family, what’s in store for this year? Indiana Jones. Borrowing iconic scenes from three of the action-adventure movies, Indy will be running away from the giant boulder in Raiders of the Lost Ark. In the Milams’ yard, it could be an 8-foot-tall Christmas ornament.

Expect a punny take on the Temple of Doom scene when the villain removes a still-beating heart during a ritual. And from The Last Crusade, the storyline of choosing the wrong grail becomes, in the Milams’ scene, a white elephant exchange.

As much work as it is each year, the Milams wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Honestly, one of the best things about building these decorations is being able to bring a smile to someone’s face,” Mike reflects. “In my career, I have to manage some of the most difficult and daunting situations imaginable. I don’t have the luxury of joy on a day-to-day basis. This gives me an opportunity to bring joy.”

Mike and his family feel a responsibility to support and give back to their neighborhood and community.

“Last year, when we had the golf course each day, we would have children, old and young adults, playing golf in our front yard. I met neighbors, shared hot cocoa with strangers and watched families spend time together during the holiday season. We witnessed laughter, singing and togetherness. It might be silly, but I think our decorations are our act of kindness to the neighborhood we love so much.”