By J.B.In our neck of the woods, one can rent a stretch limo and view the best light displays in town. With a television displaying crackling fire and an endless supply of hot chocolate, one could have a three-hour tour for right around $400.
I decided to take the cheap route. I printed a map of the best light displays from http://www.tackylighttour.com, loaded my kids in the car, and turned the radio to a local station playing Christmas music all day long until December 25th.
My kids and I got out of the car and walked around, giddy and giggling. Dozens of other families were there and everyone was smiling and pointing at one wonder after another. In that moment, we were all little kids. It was truly magical.
Do you have a tacky light house near you? Do you love them or hate them?
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10 comments:
I LOVE looking at Christmas lights. Just grab of thermos of hot chocolate, crank the radio, and drive around. There is one spectacular house about 5 or 6 miles from me, out on the edge of the country that did a fantastic job with their lights.
So, I wonder how long it took the son to place the lights on the tree. Hot dog...he did it from the bottom clear to the ends of each branch. Blew my mind! :)
My kids LOVE them. They want US to have them...I have to keep saying they're tacky, but the kids just don't see it. :)
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
I love them! There's an entire street not far from us that takes Christmas decorating REALLY SERIOUSLY. This year, the lead house has a carnival theme with a mini ferris wheel and carousel, plus all the other stuff they've had for years. (I believe they pay someone to put everything up.) It's wild and crazy and really cool. (Not everyone on the street does as much, which is kind of a relief.)
Our street here in Fort Collins has a nice assortment of Christmas displays. And this year I'll be putting mine up too since my daughters are coming. Our street feeds into a another cross street that has more of the really impressive displays. One house always has its yard filled with Santa, sleigh, reindeer, elves. Now, I've noticed a couple of neighbors near that house have begun to put on bigger displays, too. I really enjoy seeing all those houses lit up, whether it's modest and tasteful or tacky. It's still pretty lights.
Oh, there's a place near our house that has billions of lights. Billions.
Just--every possible bit of house and shrub and window and roof covered covered covered with muilticolored lights. And words spelled out. And reindeer, and just--everything.
It should be tacky, but somehow, it's terrific!
I'd be unhappy if I lived next door, I must say...but being out of eyeshot and down the street? Is hugely fun.
Hank hit it on the nose for me. I'd hate to live next door. We've only owned our home for a year and I'm working out my interior decorations this year. Next year I may move to the outside. Our neighbor across the street has a huge wreath on the side of his garage. It faces our house and it's crooked. It's making me nuts. By the time I get over wanting to straighten it out it will St. Patrick's Day. LOL
Mare,
I wouldn't be able to take that. I would totally be on a ladder in the middle of the night - lol!
And I don't think I'd like to be next door or across the street - you'd have to keep your blinds drawn for weeks. I never thought about that or the traffic the neighborhood gets. One of the crazy house owners told me his neighbors had all helped decorate this year, so it was nice to hear that the whole street was invested in the project.
I love them. There are several blocks that have contests for the best lit house on the block. It's all in fun and everything is amazing at what is designed with lights.
I saw two documentaries on TV, one was The Tacky Light Contest with Mr. Christmas (or something like that) driving around in his stretch limo.
We have a street here in Portland OR that has a great display every year (can't move in unless you sign a contract to do the display) however they don't allow cars. Got to park elsewhere and WALK.
I'm so glad that some fanaticism is directed at things like this instead of some of the major horrific fanaticisms around the world.
Good ole USA!
Patg
Where I used to live, I would this neighborhood to and from work. The two houses face each other on a certain. They've been known to compete with one another every holiday and last Christmas was the last time I saw the spectacle. I've since moved to another area of town and I suspect this year, they are on the verge of lighting the whole city of Atlanta.
http://sharonoliver.net
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