SRSterling Road Santa's Runway
RWY 25Trumbull, Connecticut

Sterling Road
Santa's Runway

Follow the lights. Land on Sterling Road.

A whole street of neighbors, lit up for the holidays. Free to visit. Every season it raises money for Trumbull Social Services.

Plan your visitGive to the fundraiser
Hero photo credit: confirm with organizers

Opening and visiting

Arrivals board

Season opens
Date: confirm with organizers
Lights on
Nightly hours: confirm
Season ends
Date: confirm (press says around Jan 1)
Admission
Free
Santa and Grinch nights
Dates announced on Facebook: confirm how to list
One-way street
Which nights and hours: confirm
Artwork slotIllustrated map of Sterling RoadHand-drawn, numbered stops, street names
MAPFind the runway

Follow the lights, stop by stop.

The artist draws the map with numbered stops for the displays the organizers confirm.

  • GPS pin: 192 Sterling Rd confirm best pin
  • Entry point and direction of travel: organizers to write
  • Parking and walking: organizers to write
  • Cross streets in the display: Sterling Rd only, or other streets too? confirm

The story

One street, decorated together.

Neighbors on Sterling Road began decorating together so people had something to drive around and see. It grew into a coordinated runway of lights that now draws visitors from across Connecticut, and the money it raises goes to the town food pantry, senior services and families facing hardship.

Draft copy built from press coverage.

Organizers to rewrite in their own voice and confirm the start year (2020 or 2021).
Artwork slotHero illustration: the runway at nightSuggested 1200 x 900, landscape
DEPGive

Help Trumbull neighbors.

$25,908 raised of a $29,500 goal, 244 donations.

GoFundMe, as of November 5, 2026. A live site would need the organizers to approve showing this number.

GoFundMeTrumbull Social Services Holiday Fundraiser
Venmo@SantasRunway
Cash App$SantasRunway

Where the money goes, in plain words: Organizers to write. The GoFundMe is not a registered charity, so the page should say clearly how funds reach the town and whether gifts are tax-deductible.

How it grew

  1. 2020 or 2021

    A handful of neighbors start it. Year and house count: confirm

  2. Jan 2023

    $4,600 check presented to Trumbull Human Services for the 2022 season.

  3. Dec 2023

    News 12 visits for the third season.

  4. Dec 2024

    Daily Voice and News 12 feature the display and the Grinch.

  5. 2025

    Billed as the fifth annual season on the GoFundMe.

  6. 2026

    The coming season. Opening date

Zoli Szabo seated in his Grinch costume
Zoli Szabo, co-founder, in his Grinch costume. Photo credit and caption wording: Zoli to confirm

Grinch nights

Some nights, Zoli plays the Grinch.

A short, plain section: a photo of Zoli in his own costume, a caption, and the dates he appears. Kept to what the organizers already do on the street.

Grinch night dates and how to describe them: organizers to confirm

A flag, not legal advice

  • The Grinch is a Dr. Seuss Enterprises character. A home-made costume at a free neighborhood display is one thing. A website, a logo or merchandise is more visible, so the plan is to stay on the safe side:
  • Use only Zoli's own photos, with a plain caption. No book, film or official character images.
  • No Grinch in the site name, domain, logo or the artist's illustrations, and no Seuss titles or quotes.
  • Keep Santa as the star, with the Grinch as one section.
  • If the Grinch ever goes on signs, shirts or the QR kit, check with someone who knows trademark law first.
  • Optional: a small line such as 'Not affiliated with Dr. Seuss Enterprises.' Joshua to decide

The people behind it

Neighbors, Santa and a fundraiser.

  • Zoli Szabo, co-founder. Spelling and title: confirm (press differs)
  • Joe McDonald, co-organizer, runs the GoFundMe.
  • Co-organizers listed on the GoFundMe: Amanda Harmon, Kelly Carlin, Roland Newmark. Which names to show: confirm
  • Michele Jakab, Director of Trumbull Human Services, receives the donation. Okay to name her: confirm
Artwork slotCrew photo, supplied by the organizersAdults only, or with parent permission

Thank you

Neighbors and businesses behind it.

  • Vicki and Tom Tesoro
  • Superior Electric & Security
  • Brick Oven on Main
  • Old Towne Restaurant
  • Marianna's Pantry
  • FRYBORG
  • Holistic Dog Training
  • Cornerstone Children's Center
  • CT Custom Carts
  • Custom Illuminations

Names from the GoFundMe thank-you list.

Which to show, and the season: confirm

In the news

Daily VoiceNews 12 Connecticut, 2024News 12 Connecticut, 2023Trumbull Patch