Across America, dads are climbing onto roofs to attach a couple of rows of Christmas lights. Others are finding the right place for their blow-up plastic Santa on their front lawn. Still others are going all out and placing Santa sled, complete with tiny reindeer, in their front yard.
Many Americans light up their property every December and it has almost become a space race in some communities as families do their darndest to outshine their neighbors.
Even actress/model Britney Spears has gotten into the act, lavishly decorating her home in Calabasas, Calif., with thousands of colorful lights and Santa’s helicopter on her rooftop.
But she is a décor pauper compared to thousands of other Americans who have spared no expense in trying to get their homesteads the biggest and best around, ostensibly doing their best to have their homes visible from outer space. Many of these homes have become seasonal tourist attractions, with thousands of people travelling from far and wide to view the displays.
The Faucher family of New Castle, Del., is near the top of the Christmas décor fanatics, displaying about a million lights around their suburban home.
The website HouseLogic estimated that the family would spend $82,320 on electricity if they use the traditional C7 bulbs, using 5 watts each. One million of those multicolored lights could cost $686 per hour, burning four hours each night for a month – enough power for about 600 average homes. Perhaps it is a good thing Rich Faucher is an electrician by trade. The Fauchers take a constructive view of the situation: They ask visitors to drop off toys for the Toys for Tots program.
Several organizations and firms conduct annual Christmas decoration contests and the Travelling Adventurer has researched the topic to present our readers with some of the most outstanding places in America to view Christmas lighting.
The Whitis family from Tallahassee is the most recent winner of the “My Lights Are Better Than Your Lights” competition on Good Morning America. The Whitis family writes is using their house, lighted up like a military helicopter, to raise money for the Semper Fi Fund. The Whitis family writes on Youtube: “Since 1775, over 1.3 million American troops have made the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you and please visit SemperFiFund.org to help give back to those who protect our freedom.”
Aside from individual homes, travellers can find elaborate Christmas decoration displays all across America. Here are some of the most popular nationwide:
New York City, NY
Manhattan is aglow each season with displays everywhere. Leading the attractions is Rockefeller Center’s iconic towering tree, set aglow with some 30,000 bulbs that glisten down upon the ice-skating rink, bugling lit-up angels, and wide-eyed tourists through early January (lit November 30; free; www.rockefellercenter.com).
Newport Beach, CA
For more than a century, Newport Beach’s “Christmas Boat Parade” has delighted spectators with a “Christmas-sea” feeling all its own. A fine flotilla of some 200 vibrantly decorated vessels, from multimillion-dollar yachts right down to simple canoes, glides through Newport Harbor as holiday music and costumed carolers fill the air with melodious merrymaking. The brilliant boat parade (it’s the oldest one in the country) attracts close to a million viewers; it’s held nightly from December 14 through December 18 and lasts about 2.5 hours – show up on the closing night for a fireworks finale. Also, many harbor-front homeowners and businesses participate in the annual “Ring of Lights” contest, showcasing their own elaborate holiday displays, while providing a striking backdrop to the boat parade (free; www.christmasboatparade.com).
Walt Disney World
The theme park is blanketed by a staggering 5 million bulbs that sync up with animated displays for choreographed interpretations of holiday tunes – not to mention the artificial snow flurries, 3-D effects, and colorful decorations that crop up around every bend.
Chicago, IL
The annual “Magnificent Mile Lights Festival” is at the city’s celebratory epicenter, where more than a million lights on 200 trees flank the famous shopping strip, with hundreds of shop’s holiday window displays adding to the appeal.
McAdenville, NC
This town of only about 700 lures some 600,000 visitors to witness its transformation into what’s been dubbed “Christmas Town USA.” A high-spirited partnership between town residents and a local manufacturing company allows the hamlet to trim more than 375 fir trees (they outnumber the households!) with nearly a half-million red, green, and white holiday lights. The trees range in size from 6-footers adorned with 500 lights to 90-foot-high behemoths bedecked in some 5,000 radiant bulbs. Recorded Christmas carols broadcast from a local church add to the high-powered Christmas feel. This year’s event runs through December 26, kicking off with the official lighting ceremony at the town’s Legacy Park on December 1 (free; www.mcadenville-christmastown.com).
San Antonio, TX
You’ll find the bulk of the 1.8 million holiday lights garnishing nearly 200 trees (done up with 10,000 bulbs apiece) and on 20 holiday-hued bridges, all brightened up even further by carolers bellowing their tunes nightly from passing river barges (singers perform November 26– December 18). The festivities kick off on November 25 (and run through January 1), when the switch is flipped and the “Ford Holiday River Parade,” complete with an entourage of lit-up festooned floats, unfolds.
Knoxville/Bristol, Tn.
In West Knoxville and Bristol, Tennessee, Shadrack’s Water Sports puts on two of the most awesome Christmas light show you’ve likely ever seen. Shadrack’s Water Sports has transformed the large hillside behind their boat showroom into a Christmas wonderland with hundreds of thousands of brightly colored lights dynamically synchronized and dancing to Christmas tunes.
Silver Dollar City - Branson, MO
From Nov. 1 through December 30, millions of Christmas lights cover the whole park. Plus, the entire City is transformed into a holiday wonderland each evening at 5:30 p.m. as guests join together on the Square for the lighting of the dazzling, five-story Special Effects Christmas Tree. Adorned with over 250,000 lights coordinated to blaze to the musical movements of Christmas songs, this unique Special Effects Christmas Tree presents classics such as “Carol of the Bells” and Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” in a spectacular light and sound show.
Oglebay Festival of Lights - Wheeling, WV
In 1985 a holiday tradition began at Oglebay and spread throughout the city of Wheeling. That tradition is the Winter Festival of Lights celebration. The first year, displays and landscape lighting covered about 125 acres over a three-mile drive throughout the resort. Since then, the show has grown into one of the nation’s largest Christmas light shows, covering more than three hundred acres over a six-mile drive throughout the resort.
Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, TN. Combine for a magical celebration that begins in late fall. Ride the Trolley Tour of Lights around Pigeon Forge and claim a spot on the sidewalk for Gatlinburg’s “Fantasy of Lights” Christmas Parade, featuring lighted floats, marching bands and giant helium balloons. These neighboring Smoky Mountain towns are ablaze with 5 million lights thru February.
Trail of Lights - Austin, TX
During December 14 - December 23 The Trail of Lights is a mile long display of 42 lighted scenes, U.S. Post Office, Santa’s House, the Yule Log, and an entertainment stage. The festival begins with the lighting of the Zilker Tree, a 155 feet tall, 180 feet diameter lighted tree consisting of 3,309 bulbs on 39 streamers strung from Austin’s historical Moonlight Tower. Since 1987 the honor of lighting the tree has been bestowed upon the winner of the city-wide children’s tree coloring contest. The tree lighting ceremony takes place on the first Sunday of December.
Lake Lanier, Ga.
lMagical Nights of Lights- Lake Lanier, GA - November 22 - December 30
Rekindle an old tradition or create a new one at Lake Lanier Islands Resort’s annual Magical Nights of Lights holiday celebration. Known as the world’s largest animated light extravaganza, the fun kicks off November 22 through December 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 pm. nightly! Bring the whole family a drive through tour of over six miles of twinkling, holiday light displays and a live nativity scene complete with live actors and animals!
Charleston, SC
The annual Holiday Festival of Lights, Charleston, S.C. - November 14 - January 4. In 1990, Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission created the Holiday Festival of Lights to bring families and friends together and to raise support for the Charleston county park system. With over 600 individual displays located throughout the park in 132 power locations, the Holiday Festival of Lights is a magical sight to see!
Chattanooga, Tn.
The Enchanted Garden of Lights, November 21 - January 3.
See Rock City! The gardens’ natural beauty is complemented by more than 25 holiday scenes as half a million lights illuminate rock formations along the Enchanted Trail.
Louisville, Ky.
Every year, the Louisville MEGA Cavern is transformed into a Christmas light spectacular for all of Kentuckiana to experience. Lights Under Louisville will feature 35 displays, 300 LED Light characters- over 1,000,000 points of light. In 2009, the MEGA Cavern’s Lights Under Louisville allowed the public to drive their own vehicles inside the cavern to experience this unique Christmas wonderland.
Lexington, Ky.
The annual Southern Lights event through Dec. 30 is the largest fundraiser held for The Kentucky Horse Park. Over 25,927 vehicles passed through the electrical wonderland in 2006 alone! Everything from petting zoos, model railways, arts, crafts, and Santa Claus fill the Indoor Attractions section free of charge to guests.
More Excellent Christmas Lighting Locales
Battle Creek, Mich.: International Festival of Lights
Springfield, Mass.: Bright Nights at Forest Park
100 Miles of Lights - Virginia Beach, VA
Bright Nights at Forest Park- Springfield, MA
Christmas Lighting Festival - Leavenworth, WA -
Clot Family Christmas - Pinecrest, FL –
Festival of Lights - Galveston, Texas
Galaxy of Lights at the Huntsville Botanical Garden - Huntsville, AL
RHEMA Christmas Lights - Broken Arrow, OK
Tanglewood’s Festival of Lights - Clemmons, N.C
Mission Inn - Riverside, CA
Temple Square in Salt Lake City
