How’s your front yard looking these days? Are the Christmas lights hung and the plastic Santa and his reindeer affixed to your roof?
I have to admit our yard is looking a bit bare compared to our neighbor’s. But, then again, it’s hard to compete with homeowners who spend days and goodness knows how much money festooning their lawns with thousands of festive lights, inflatable snowmen, and plastic reindeer. Me, I, like to leave the decorating to others and then climb into the car and gush at the fruits of their labor.
Sincerely, I tip my hats to all the homeowners who expend so much time and energy lighting up neighborhoods across the country. My 3-year-old is absolutely astounded by some of the creations we have passed this holiday season. Without these festive do-gooders our early evening drive to the grocery store would be a pretty boring trip.
Some of the nation’s most spectacular high-wattage winter wonderlands are immortalized on YouTube. So, if you don’t have the energy to deck your own halls or you are too lazy to get in the car to drive around and take in your local lightfests you can view some real winners online.
However, if you live in or plan to visit one of the following states I would highly encourage you to brave the crowds and experience what some are calling “unforgettable sights.” These are not city sponsored attractions or holiday light festivals hosted by local Botanical Gardens the following Christmas light displays have been created by ordinary homeowners who have a ton of holiday spirit.
In a previous blog I wrote abut the Iowa homeowner who covered his house with more than 40,000 blinking lights, which are all synchronized to music and involve using 176 individual timers. These next homes are in that league.
FLORIDA
The Fitzgerald’s home in Lutz, Florida attracts more visitors in the month of December than several of nearby Tampa’s tourist spots combined. For nearly 20 years the family has set their home ablaze with tens of thousands of lights. More than a dozen Santas, 30 snowmen, eight reindeer and at least double the original Three Wise Men also guard the yard.
OHIO
Carson Williams’ Mason, Ohio holiday masterpiece is one of the most watched home light shows on YouTube. The house dances to Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Wizard in Winter and it became so popular it was featured on several national news shows. For the safety of his neighbors, his display has moved to a town park where these days 50 carloads at a time listen to holiday tunes in their vehicles and marvel at the spectacle. The extraordinary display includes two wooden replicas of the Williams home’s facade — that’s 1,800 feet of lumber and 3,500 feet of cable, which cost $192,000 to produce.
NEW YORK
The Liquori’s yard in Glen Cove, Long Island is so bright it stops traffic. For more than 20 years the family has filled its modest-size yard with more than 400 plastic holiday creations and thousands of lights. If you drive to their Francis Terrace home expect a lot of company–the family’s holiday light display typically attracts 80 carloads of people a night.
VIRGINIA
The Thompson’s Richmond, Virginia house is part of the city’s legendary “Tacky Light Tour,” which attracts thousands of visitors each year. The display consists of more than 170,000 lights and 150 homemade, hand-painted figures.
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